Some time, however, was required to reconcile himself to his new
scheme of life, but of a sudden he burst into a roar of merriment.
"We'll do it, and without a shot. Say, Mr. Wilder, it will break
Gus' heart to think he was caught without any gun play."
"That's just it. Most of the power men like Megget have is because
of the fear the very mention of their names inspires.
"But I don't mean to preach a sermon. What I want to know is, How
do you propose to capture Megget without trouble?"
"Wait till they are asleep. They'll have a celebration when they
reach the mine and afterward we can hog-tie them and they will
never know it."
Without vouchsafing any comment, the owner of the Half-Moon reined
away from the strange guide, and, as Snider joined him, discussed
the situation thoroughly.
The questioning of Lawrence, however, did not cease when the
ranchmen left him. The four boys had listened eagerly, and when
the opportunity presented deluged him with inquiries.
"Are there really ghosts in the Lost Lode?" queried Horace.
"None but very live ones," grinned the former raider. "Vasquez
started that story to keep people from coming into the valley.
Many a time we've chased men in the night when they came near."
The chums, however were more interested in learning whether or not
there was rich ore in the mine.
"Probably there is," explained Lawrence, "but it would require a
lot of drilling and sinking of shafts.
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