"Well, are you going to leave?" he snarled, as he saw that his orders were not likely to be obeyed.
"I don't see why we should," replied Billy, coolly. "We came out here to look at my uncle's property, and——"
"Yes, but you're not on your uncle's land now!" fired back the man. "This strip is owned by me and my friends, and it will be many a day before Mr. Richfield Thornton gets control of it. Now you vamoose!"
"Hold on!" suddenly called Billy, as he saw that the man was bringing his gun to bear.
"Hold on for what?" growled the man.
"Don't get rash—that's all," suggested Billy, still calmly.
"No, that gun might go off," added Frank, taking a hint from the cool conduct of his chum.
"And it might hurt somebody," added Andy.
"Why—why—what do you mean?" snarled the man. "I tell you to get off this land! Your uncle don't own it and he never will, if I have my way. You haven't any right here, and in a little while this will be fenced off so no one can come on. Now you leave in a hurry."
The boys looked at each other. Clearly they were "up against it," as Andy said afterward. They knew that the land was in dispute and, though they felt sure that Mr. Thornton had a good claim to it, they realized that, for the time being, possession was nine points of the law.