"I feel as though we ought to be at work," suggested Hazelton.
"Good!" mocked Tom. "You've been riding every day lately, and
I have remained in camp, testing samples of ore that I've picked
up on my strolls."
"You take the horse today," proposed Harry, "and I'll stay in
camp and work."
"Suppose both of us stay in and work," proposed Reade.
"That'll be all right, too," nodded Harry, pleasantly. "May I
ask, Tom, what you're up to, anyway?"
"Yes," Reade smiled. "If the Bright Hope is a real mine there
must be other good property in this region. I've been looking
about, and making an assay every now and then. Jim, you've prospected
a bit, haven't you?"
"Yes," nodded the guide. "And, gentlemen, in my day I've been
sole owner of three claims, each one of which panned out a fortune."
"Great!" glowed Harry. "But how did you lose your money, Jim!"
"I never got a cent out of any of the mines," rejoined the guide
grimly.
"How did that happen?"
"Did you ever hear of 'square gamblers'?" inquired Ferrers.
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