ride Monte if not too hot for trip. Still no sign of daddy, think
must be dead or stolen though nobody to steal same in country.

July 7.

Put in 2 shots on Burro Lode & got her down to required depth.
Hot. Bud finds old location on widow's claim, upturns all
previous calculation & information given me by her. Wrote letter
explaining same, which Bud will mail. Bud left 4 P.M. should make
Bend by midnight. Much better but still weak Burros came in late
& hung around water hole. Put up monument at Burro Lode. Sent off
samples to assay at Tucson. Killed rattler near shack, making 16
so far killed.

CHAPTER EIGHT. MANY BARREN MONTHS AND MILES

"Well, here come them darn burros, Cash. Cora's colt ain't with
'em though. Poor little devils--say, Cash, they look like hard
sleddin', and that's a fact. I'll tell the world they've got
about as much pep as a flat tire."

"Maybe we better grain 'em again." Cash looked up from studying
the last assay report of the Burro Lode, and his look was not
pleasant. "But it'll cost a good deal, in both time and money.
The feed around here is played out"

"Well, when it comes to that--" Bud cast a glum glance at the
paper Cash was holding.

"Yeah. Looks like everything's about played out. Promising