plans this intention gradually changed.

"He's got kids with him, and young gals, too;" said the
dark-mustached man, who seemed to be a little less ruffianly than
his companions, "we don't want to do them no harm."

"Not if we can help it," rejoined Red Bill Summers, wrinkling his
low forehead, "but I ain't goin' ter let them stand in our way."

"Of course not," chimed in Buck Bellew, playing with the tassels on
his red sash, and jingling his silver-mounted spurs in a somewhat
dandified fashion, "pretty girls, too," he added.

"Ther point's just this," struck in Red Bill, apparently paying no
attention to the other's conversation, "Jim Bell's got a desert mine
some place out thar yonder. This young chap he had with him, what's
his name--"

"Prescott," suggested Buck Bellew.

"Ay, Prescott, that's it. Wal, this yer Prescott has invented some
sort of an air ship, I read that in the papers. It's pretty clear
to my mind that this air ship is going to be used in getting the
gold out of the desert. That's plain enough, eh?"

"Yes, if your first idee is right. If he's got a paying mine in
reality," agreed Bellew.

"Oh, I'm satisfied on that point. Jim Bell's too old a fox to go
inter the desert onless he had stithin' worth going arter."