“It looks as if they had us, don’t it?” asked Broswick.
“Not by a long shot!” replied Nestor, heartily. “I’ve only just begun to play this here game. Before I’m through I’ll make Noddy Nixon and Tom Dalsett wish they’d never bothered me.”
“What shall we do?” inquired Jerry.
“Get breakfast,” answered Nestor, promptly. “We’ll need food for what’s ahead of us.”
A stealthy movement in the bushes attracted his attention.
“So that’s their plan, eh?” he murmured. “Hank, take your gun and go up to the mouth of the mine shaft. If any of that gang tries to approach, shoot to wound but not to kill. They were trying to sneak up to the mine and gain possession,” explained Nestor, in reference to his directions to the hunter. Broswick hurried up the slope.
Jerry and the other boys proceeded to get the morning meal. As for Professor Snodgrass, he was walking around, gathering specimens, as though danger was a thousand miles away. Nestor, with weapons ready, kept sharp watch.
They ate breakfast by turns, keeping a lookout lest the enemy might attempt to rush the position. But this did not seem to be the plan of the besiegers. They were content to keep close watch so that those in possession of the mine could not leave.
As an experiment, Nestor tried it. He walked a little way down the valley. He had not proceeded far before there was a spurt of dust at his feet and a voice cried: