第58章

“That’llrunfivedollarstotheton。Rich，it’srich；it’stherichestkindofpay，pardner。We’remillionaires。Whydon’tyousaysomething？Whydon’tyougetexcited？Whydon’tyourunaroundan’dosomething？“

“Huh！“saidMcTeague，rollinghiseyes。“Huh！Iknow，I

know，we’vestruckitprettyrich。“

“Comeon，“exclaimedCribbens，jumpingupagain。“We’llstakeheroutan’putupthelocationnotice。Lord，supposeanyoneshouldhavecomeonherwhilewe’vebeenaway。“Hereloadedhisrevolverdeliberately。“We’lldropHIMallright，ifthere’sanyonefoolingroundthere；I’lltellyouthoserightnow。Bringtherifle，pardner，an’ifyouseeanyone，PLUGhim，an’askhimwhathewantsafterward。“

Theyhurriedbacktowheretheyhadmadetheirdiscovery。

“Tothink，“exclaimedCribbens，ashedrovethefirststake，“tothinkthoseothermushheadshadtheircampwithingunshotofherandneverlocatedher。Guesstheydidn’tknowthemeaningofa’contact。’Oh，IknewIwassolidon’contacts。’“

Theystakedouttheirclaim，andCribbensputupthenoticeoflocation。Itwasdarkbeforetheywerethrough。

Cribbensbrokeoffsomemorechunksofquartsinthevein。

“I’llspoonthistoo，justforthefunofit，whenIgethome，“heexplained，astheytrampedbacktothecamp。

“Well，“saidthedentist，“wegotthelaughonthosecowboys。“

“Havewe？“shoutedCribbens。“HAVEwe？Justwaitandseetherushforthisplacewhenwetell’emaboutitdowninKeeler。Say，what’llwecallher？“

“Idon’know，Idon’know。“

“Wemightcallherthe’LastChance。’’Twasourlastchance，wasn’tit？We’d’a’goneantelopeshootingtomorrow，andthenextdaywe’d’a’——say，whatyoustoppingfor？“headded，interruptinghimself。“What’sup？“

Thedentisthadpausedabruptlyonthecrestofacanyon。

Cribbens，lookingback，sawhimstandingmotionlessinhistracks。

“What’sup？“askedCribbensasecondtime。

McTeagueslowlyturnedhisheadandlookedoveroneshoulder，thenovertheother。Suddenlyhewheeledsharplyabout，cockingtheWinchesterandtossingittohisshoulder。Cribbensranbacktohisside，whippingouthisrevolver。

“Whatisit？“hecried。“Seeanybody？“Hepeeredonaheadthroughthegatheringtwilight。

“No，no。“

“Hearanything？“

“No，didn’thearanything。“

“Whatisitthen？What’sup？“

“Idon’know，Idon’know，“mutteredthedentist，loweringtherifle。“Therewassomething。“

“What？“

“Something——didn’tyounotice？“

“Noticewhat？“

“Idon’know。Something——somethingorother。