"What is the reason you can't?"
"You seem unwilling to trade, and we can not buy them."
"Of course you can't; but——"
And thereupon the miner rose to his feet and handed one gun to Elwood and the other to Howard.
"What does this mean?" asked the latter, not comprehending him.
"You don't suppose we would be mean enough to sell you anything you needed so bad, do you? No; take them both, and here's a lot of lead, gun-caps and ammunition."
"But——"
"No buts about it. Take 'em, you're welcome, for you need 'em. I was only joking with you."