It was a sad problem for men who cared for nothing in the wide world but just such ledges and just such gold. What was the use of it?
Steve Harrison never knew it, but his mine was of a good deal of use to him and Murray just then. It kept Captain Skinner and his men looking at it long enough for them to get nearly back to the camp of the Lipans.
"It won't do, boys," said Captain Skinner, at last; "we're wasting time. Come on."
They followed him, every man turning his head as he did so to take another look at the yellow spots that shone here and there in the quartz.
Their way down the ravine was made with care and circumspection, for they did not know at what moment they might come in sight of "those two fellers and their deer."
It was well for them, probably, that they were cautious, for after a good deal of steep climbing, just as they were about to clamber down one of the rocky "stairs," the man called Bill exclaimed,
"Captain, thar it is—"
"The deer? They've left it. I see it."
"More'n that farther down."
"A big-horn! And if that ain't a painter lying beside it!"