gold prospect. The yeller stuff sure dazzles the eyesight an' fogs the understandin'. You goin' ahead?"
"I'm grub-staking the prospect to the extent of spending a little money, time and work on the prospect, Red. I'll survive the shock if it fails to pan out. I'm going to Pioche in the morning to buy some supplies. I imagine that what we really need is a steam-shovel, but that means an engineer and talk. We'll try and make dynamite take its place. Know anything about using it?"
"Some. You'll likely find that stuff too light to git much kick out of yore explosive. You'll be apt to need lights to work with as you tunnel in. We got picks an' shovels enough on the ranch. Goin' to take along some of the boys? An' me?"
"Yes. And Quong. We'll call it a picnic, with Quong as cook. I'd let the girls into it if it wasn't likely to take a day or two. But I don't want to buy any dynamite or other, unusual supplies in Metzal. And there are one or two other things I want to attend to in Pioche. After I go, you'll see Stoney started off with the gate. I'll be back by night. Have any of the boys heard talk in Metzal about Hollister? I heard two of them riding back late last night."
"Jim Lund an' Stoney. No. Metzal's forgot Hollister. An' our outfit's kep' mum as a stuffed toad. They're sure a good bunch of hombres. They'd go a long ways for you, Sheridan. Hollister, he warn't none too well liked. Too much of a bully, They figger him gone west, or south, Mexicali way,
