What are Desert Rats on Ranger Bill?

The term "desert rats" is the subject of several Ranger Bill stories. RB-127 "The Adventure of the Tarnished Gold," RB-164 "Freddy's Story," and RB-005 "Burning Sands," are among several stories that refer to these desert rats. In all of these adventures, desert rats are those old-time prospectors who mined or panned for gold in the hills, rivers, and streams. Most of the time these men worked long and hard in the desert sun looking to get rich. Some were able to eek out a living on the gold they found, often squandering what little they earned on riotous living.