"Well, I'll make it so. What have you got there? I saw you putting something in the pack."
"It's none of your business!"
"Be careful! Don't get me riled! I want to know what you're doing here."
"Well, we're prospecting; my brother and I."
"Where's your camp? You've just gotten here, for there are no signs of a camp."
"Back there!" replied Jed, with an indefinite wave of his hand. He would have been only too glad to point to where the camp was.
"Hum! Did you see any signs of gold?"
Now Jed had never told a lie, and he did not want to begin now, though the gambler asked a question he had no right to have answered.
Jed hesitated. He resolved he would not utter an untruth; yet to defy the man, and refuse to tell, would practically be to confess the truth. And he knew what that meant. The reckless men would overpower him and Will, and rob them of their nuggets, and the other gold, which was hidden in the saddles. Worse than this, the bad men would become aware of the existence of a rich nugget mine, and they would claim it for their own.
Then, as he hesitated, a flash of inspiration came to the lad. He looked around, and saw that Will was ready with the guns. If his trick failed, and worst came to worst, the two farmer boys could defend themselves.