Part 41 (1/2)

One by one the boys rolled from their beds. Pan was the only one who had to pull on his boots. Somebody found soap and towel, which they fought over. The towel had not been clean before this onslaught.

Afterward it was unrecognizable. Gus cooked breakfast which, judged from the attack upon it, was creditable to him.

”Wal, our hosses are heah,” said Blinky, cheerfully. ”Reckon I was afeared they'd jump the fence. We may have a little h.e.l.l on the start.”

”Blink, you don't aim to tie up their feet again, do you?” inquired Pan anxiously.

”Nope. They had all they wanted of thet. Mebbe they'll try to bust away first off. But our hosses are fresh, too. I'm gamblin' in three hours we'll have them in your dad's corral.”

”Then we don't have to drive through Marco?”

”Sh.o.r.e not. We're on the main road thet pa.s.ses your dad's. Reckon it's aboot eight miles or so.”

”Say, Blink, do we take this road on our way south to Siccane?”

”Yep. It's the only road. You come in on it by stage. It runs north and south. Not very good road this way out of Marco.”

”Then, by golly, we can leave our new horses here,” exclaimed Pan gladly.

”Wal, I'll be goldarned. Where's my haid? Sh.o.r.e we can. It's a first-rate pasture, plenty of water, an' fair gra.s.s. But I'll have to go in town, thet's d.a.m.n sh.o.r.e, you know. An' we cain't leave these hosses heah unguarded.”

”Gus, will you and Brown stay here? We'll leave grub and outfit.”

Brown had to refuse, and explained that he was keen to get back to his mining claim, which he believed now he would be able to work.

”I'll stay,” said Gus. ”It's a good idee. Workin' with these hosses a day or two will get 'em fit to travel. An' I reckon I'd like a job with you, far as Siccane anyway.”

”You've got it, and after we reach Siccane, too, if you want one,”

replied Pan quickly.

The deal was settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.

”How aboot our pack hosses?” asked Blinky. ”Course Charley will have to take his, but will we need ours? I mean will we have to pack them from heah?”

”No, all that stuff can go in the wagons,” replied Pan. ”We'll need three wagons, anyhow. Maybe more. Dad, how much of an outfit have you at home?”

”You saw it, son,” said Smith, with a laugh. ”Mine would go in a saddlebag. But I reckon the women folks will have a wagon load.”

”Rustle. I'm ararin' to go,” yelled Pan, striding out into the pasture to catch his horse. In the exuberance of the moment Pan would have liked to try conclusions with the white-footed stallion or the blue roan, but he could not spare the time. He led Sorrel back to camp and saddled him. Blinky and Pan's father were also saddling their mounts.

”I'll take it easy,” explained Charley Brown, who had made no move.

”My claim is over here in the hills not very far.”

”Brown, I'm sorry you won't go south with us,” said Pan warmly, as he shook hands with the miner. ”You've sure been a help. And I'm glad we've--well, had something to do with removing the claim jumpers.”

As Pan rode out that morning on the sorrel, to face north on the road to Marco, he found it hard to contain himself. This hour was the very first in which he could let himself think of the glorious fulfillment of his dream.

His father was too lame to ride fast and Pan, much as he longed to rush, did not want to leave him behind. But it was utterly impossible for Pan to enter into the animated conversation carried on by his father and Blinky. They were talking wagons, teams, harness, grain, homesteads and what not. Pan rode alone, a little ahead of them.

Almost, he loved this wild and rugged land. But that was the ecstasy of the moment. This iron country was too cut up by mountains, with valleys too bare and waterless, to suit Pan. Not to include the rough and violent element of men attracted by gold!