For a few seconds the newcomers stood glaring at Phipps and the Pony
Rider Boys.
"Tom Cravath!" exclaimed the assistant superintendent. "So, you are the mystery, are you?"
"Poaching, eh?" sneered Cravath unabashed.
"What business you got in here?" snapped his companion.
"I might ask you the same question, you fellow and Tom Cravath?" retorted Mr. Phipps, holding the two men with a level gaze. "And what's more I think your peculiar doings will bear looking into. There's something mighty queer about this business. I shouldn't be surprised if we found we'd solved a greater mystery than we thought—"
"You'll solve nothing!" shouted Cravath, suddenly drawing a revolver. His companion did likewise, both men quickly covering Tom Phipps and the boys with their weapons. "You'll find it ain't profitable to meddle with other folks' business."
"Pity you hadn't learned that lesson yourself," jeered Tom.
"It's over the cliff for the whole blooming bunch of you. I'll give you all the mystery you want."
"Father, father," protested Rose, horrified at her parent's cold-blooded threat. "They haven't done anything. They—"
"You shut up!" roared the miner. "Get out of here! Get in under the arch there! I'll attend to you later!"