Reade, sir, we've seen this coming, though, of course, we
didn't know just how big your pile was. We've talked it over
some, and I know what the fellows think. If you don't pay us
our wages, but put the money into grub only, you can keep a-going
here some weeks yet."
"Yes," Tom nodded. "But in that case, if the mine didn't pan out,
we wouldn't have a cent left out of which to pay you off. At least,
not until Reade and I had been at work for months, perhaps a year,
on some salaried job. So you see that we can't fairly encourage you
men to remain here."
"Mr. Reade," Walsh declared, this time without glancing at the
other men, and there was a slight huskiness in the big miner's
voice, "we wouldn't feel right if we went anywhere else to work.
We've never worked under men as fair and square as you three
men have been. You've treated all of us white. Now, what kind
of fellows would we be if we cleared out and left you just because
the snow had come and the money had gone. No, sir! By your leave,
gentlemen, we'll stay here as long as you do, and the money can
take care of itself until it shows up again.
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