Buck thought for some moments before he answered. He was viewing the prospect from the standpoint of his years.
"They must sure have had 'em anyway," he said at last.
"Ye--es."
The Padre understood what was in the other's mind.
"You see," he went on presently, "I wasn't thinking of that so much. It's--well, it amounts to this. These poor devils are just working to fill Beasley's pockets. Beasley's the man who'll benefit by this 'strike.' In a few months the others will be on the road again, going through all--that they've gone through before."
"I guess they will," Buck agreed. His point of view had changed. He was seeing through the older eyes. After that they moved on toward their home lost in the thoughts which their brief talk had inspired.
In a few days the Padre's prophecy was fulfilled. Beasley returned from Leeson Butte at the head of a small convoy. He had contrived his negotiations with a wonderful skill and foresight. His whole object had been secrecy, and this had been difficult. To shout the wealth of the camp in Leeson Butte would have been to bring instantly an avalanche of adventurers and speculators to the banks of Yellow Creek. His capital was limited to the small amount he had secretly hoarded while his comrades were starving, and the gold he had taken from his claim. The latter was his chief asset not from its amount, but its nature. Therefore he had been forced to take the leading merchant in the little prairie city into his confidence, and to suggest a partnership. This he had done, and a plausible tongue, and the sight of the wonderful raw gold, had had the effect he desired. The partnership was arranged, the immediate finance was forthcoming, and, for the time at least, Leeson Butte was left in utter ignorance of its neighboring Eldorado.
Once he had made his deal with Silas McGinnis, Beasley promptly opened his heart in characteristic fashion.
"They're all sheep, every one of 'em," he beamed upon his confederate. "They'll be so easy fleecin' it seems hardly worth while. All they need is liquor, and cards, and dice. Yes, an' a few women hangin' around. You can leave the rest to themselves. We'll get the gilt, and to hell with the dough under it. Gee, it's an elegant proposition!" And he rubbed his hands gleefully. "But ther' must be no delay. We must get busy right away before folks get wind of the luck. I'll need marquees an' things until I can get a reg'lar shanty set up. Have you got a wood spoiler you can trust?"