"Where were you bound?"
"That was our business, Baxter."
"Oh, if you don't want to tell me, you needn't," growled the bully, and walked away.
"I'll wager he and his father have had a row with Captain Langless," observed Dick. "Otherwise he wouldn't be half so meek."
"I wish we could win Captain Langless over to our side," put in Sam suddenly, struck by the idea. "Do you suppose it could be done if we paid him well?"
"I'd hate to buy him off," said Tom.
"But it might be best," said Dick slowly. "We don't know what the
Baxters may have in store for us."
"It's pretty plain to me what they want to do. They are going to hold us prisoners until father signs off his rights to that mining claim."
"And if father won't sign off?"
"Then they'll treat us pretty badly."