"Unless you will compromise, you'll never see a speck of your dust," growled Sag Ruff.
"Nor a nugget neither," came from Morgan Fitzsimmons. "We have got the upper hand, and you know it."
"We are going to capture you and get the gold, too," said Mark.
"Perhaps you think we have the gold with us," said Morgan Fitzsimmons.
"You have," cried Maybe Dixon.
"Nothing of the kind. We hid it away, miles from here."
"Do you think he tells the truth?" asked Mark.
"I do not," answered Maybe Dixon. "I saw the bag several times as the rascals rode along. If they got rid of it at all it was just before they made for this cave."
"You'll give up that gold right enough," shouted one of the miners in the posse. "We'll make you tell where it is, even if it takes a rope to do it."
"That's the talk!" cried another. "Hanging is too good for such skunks!"