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224 to respond to Red's gentling; a proceeding that at first had startled it by sheer novelty. Quong rode in the wagon that carried the tools behind a lusty team, destined to haul back the gold—if they found it—in two or more trips. One of the cowboys drove, the two others had their mounts.

A ton of gold would be hard hauling over the soft desert soil. Sheridan did not want to discount success by building too heavily upon it, but he had planned to divide the spoils, cacheing part of it anew and leaving a guard over it until he could come back and get it. He had only one wagon on the ranch and he did not want to buy a new one, or borrow, to make any move that might start inquiry or arouse curiosity.

Stoney gleaned a suggestion that they were out looking for a water supply for future irrigation. That he would pass on to any visitors to the Circle S. They left the ranch while the stars were bright, long before the sun was up, and they had crossed the highroad before dawn and were skirting the range westward—towards their goal—when the sun rose. Quong had his camp-cooking outfit and provisions in the wagon with the tools. Sheridan planned to set up headquarters in Bonanza Canyon, where there was water and feed, and he had come prepared to stay a week, if necessary. Quong was still to act in his capacity as cook but there was a change manifest in his manner. Always sustaining dignity, he now emanated something more, not arrogance, but an unpushed assertion of rank or power. With it was a supreme confidence that communicated itself to Sheridan.