Part 27 (2/2)
Toward eleven o'clock the boy came out upon a rise of ground overlooking a long slope. He rubbed his eyes almost unbelievingly.
Halfway down the slope was a shack and off beyond it stood a man with his back turned toward him.
Tad uttered a shout of joy and began leaping down the incline. The man down there, startled by the cry, wheeled suddenly and descrying the figure of Tad Butler racing toward him, ran to his cabin, appearing a moment later with a rifle in his hands.
A moment more a second man dashed out, he too carrying a gun. Both men stood facing the lad, until, when he got near enough, they discovered that it was a boy; then they laughed and lowered their weapons.
Tad fairly staggered up to them.
”Act as if ye'd seen a ghost, young feller. What's the excitement about?” demanded the first of the two men.
Tad explained as best he could between breaths, at which the men laughed more heartily than ever.
”I want something to eat first of all. I'm half starved,” he told them.
”Sorry, younker, but we ain't got more'n enough for ourselves. It's a long ways to where we kin git more.”
”But I am willing to pay you for it. I must have food right now,”
protested Tad.
”So must we.”
”Who are you?” demanded Tad indignantly. ”I didn't suppose there was a man mean enough to refuse a boy at least a piece of bread when that boy was starving.”
”We're prospecting. I reckon we know our business best. Ye can't get any chuck out of this outfit.”
”Then tell me where the Red Star Mine is. I've got to get there at once.”
”She's nigh onto fifteen miles off thar--”
”Why, that's the direction I came from,” exclaimed the lad.
”Sure. Ye must have dodged it. Did ye pa.s.s the Ruby Mounting?”
”I don't know. Where is it?” asked Tad Butler.
”You'd know if ye saw it once. It's a peak that looks red when the sun s.h.i.+nes on it.”
”No, I didn't pa.s.s the place. Tell me how I can get to the mining camp, even if you won't let me have anything to eat,” begged the boy.
”My companions will starve before I can get back unless I get help to them soon.”
”Got a compa.s.s?”
”Yes.”
”Then lay yer course north by northwest three p'ints and ye'll hit the Red Star plumb in the eye--if ye don't miss it,” and the miner laughed coa.r.s.ely. ”Know anybody there?”
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