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 pass 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 shines on it."
"No, I didn't pass 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.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117