TWO TONS AND A POUND OF GOLDThe winter passed, and the summer. And other winters and summers, and still the partners panned gold and traded powder and lead for more gold.
Four years from the time of their first visit, Jake once more frowned at the single powder keg left in the corner of the cabin. “We’ve got to make another trip to the fort, Matt,” he said. “Seems like we don’t do nothin’ but run to the store!”
Matthew chuckled. “That’s right,” he admitted, “we’re gettin’ plumb shif’less.”
“The freeze-up’s liable to come any time now. Where’s them shears? We’ll shave up. The mosquitoes an’ flies is all gone, an’ damn if I’m goin’ to shove no snowdrift along ahead of me with my face agin!”
Ignatz came for more powder before the shaving operations were completed. He seemed vastly interes
