“Where are the revolvers?” Rice insisted, as others started to get shovels and dig in a hurry.
“Oh, never mind the revolvers,” replied Tom. “We won’t use ’em, anyway. We can’t, for they wouldn’t carry far enough to put any of the enemy in danger.”
“Mr. Reade,” remarked Mr. Newnham, in a quiet undertone, “does it occur to you that you are making no preparations to defend the camp! That, in fact, you seem wholly indolent in the matter?”
“Oh, no; I’m not indolent, sir,” smiled Tom. “You’ll find me energetic enough, sir, I imagine, when the need for swift work comes.”
“Of course you couldn’t foresee the coming of any such outrage as this,” Mr. Newnham continued.
“Oh, I rather guessed that this sort of thing was coming,” Tom confessed.
“You guessed it—-and yet the camp has been left undefended? You haven’t taken any steps to protect the company’s rights and property at this point?” gasped Mr. Newnham.
“You will find, sir, that I am not wholly unprepared,” Reade remarked dryly, while the corners of his mouth drew down grimly.
Tom was apparently the only one in camp, after the excitement started, who had noted that Dave Fulsbee, at the first shots, had leaped to his horse and vanished down the trail to the eastward.
At this moment a party of a dozen, headed by Professor Coles, came in on foot, bearing young Reynolds with them.