"Oh, no, Mr. Phelps," Ruth said warmly. "Never _that!_"
"I don't know," he grumbled, hobbling on his crutches now while she walked toward the pony that was trailing his picket-rope. "You see, I'm pretty desperate about this gold strike. I've a good mind to go up there on the ridge and pull up all your stakes and throw 'em away."
"I wouldn't," she advised, smiling at him. "Mr. Flapjack Peters has what they call a 'sudden' temper; and his daughter, we found out coming over from Yucca, is a dead shot."
"I want a big slice of that ledge," said the young man, sighing. "Enough to make a showing in the Eastern share market."
"Let us wait and see. You know, you might be able to buy up us girls--three of us who hold the next three claims to yours and your sister's."
"Oh! Would you do it?" he demanded, brightening up.
"Perhaps. And we might wait for our money till you got the mine to working on a paying basis," Ruth said seriously. "Besides, there is Min Peters and her father. If you would take them into your company, so that they would have an income, Peters would be of great use to you, Mr. Phelps."
"Look here! I'll do anything fair," cried the young man. "It isn't that I am just after the money for the money's sake----"
"I understand," she told him, nodding. "We'll talk about it later. After we get reports on the ore that Peters took specimens of, all along the ledge. But I am afraid your sister's bringing workmen up here will start a stampede to Freezeout."
"What do we care, as long as we get ours?" he cried, cheerfully. "Whew! The pater may think I am some good after all, before this business is over."
They mounted their ponies and rode to the camp. They followed the very route Ruth had come, but did not see the wounded wild horse again. Royal Phelps left her when they came in sight of Freezeout and Ruth rode down into the camp alone.
She told the camp wrangler something about her adventure and the next day he went out with some of the Indians and punchers working for the outfit, and they ran down the black and white stallion.
However, Ruth had less interest in the wild stallion than she had in several other subjects. She quietly told the girls and Miss Cullam now about the possible discovery of a rich gold-bearing ledge so near camp. The Ardmore's were naturally greatly excited.