"There's trouble coming, 'Wizard'!" he said briefly, and pointed to the steamer.
"You mean she's Russian? It's likely enough, then," was the grave reply. "Though I don't know that they can do much."
"They chucked me off here, once!" the old prospector remarked, revengefully.
"They'll have their hands full doing it a second time! Counting all the workmen, we've a pretty strong gang here, Jim. And most of the men would fight."
The steamer drew nearer, and the mining expert went into the house for his field-glasses.
Presently she was close enough for the glass to reveal an unusually large number of men on her deck. There was a more sinister omen still—a six-inch gun in her bow!
"A converted cruiser! H'm, this looks serious, Jim! Send Anton here, on the run."
The boy came instantly.
The "Wizard" shot out his orders.
"Get to the mess-tent as quick as you know how and grab some food. Get a gun and some ammunition. Then climb up to the wireless station right away. If I blow one blast on the engine-house whistle, don't pay any attention. If there are two long blasts, you can come back. But if you hear a succession of short, sharp blasts, be sure you start sending, and keep on sending!"