"Get off, then. You have no right here."
"You know, quite well, Gage, that we have as much right here as you have," Tom rejoined easily. "We are quite well aware that your man failed to file the claim because all of you have exhausted your mineral rights under the law.
"So you think you can come here and take it from us, do you?" glared
Gage, his face livid with passion.
"We have just the same right to this claim now that any man has who has any mineral rights left under the law," Reade made answer.
"But you haven't. I'm going to get this claim yet," Gage insisted.
"I've sent for a friend who hasn't taken up any mineral rights yet.
He will file the claim. See here!"
Gage moved aside, displaying a new board, on which a notice had been written.
"That's signed with the name of the man the claim belongs to now," declared Gage, triumphantly.
Tom handed his bridle to Harry, then dismounted, bending over to scan the new notice. It was a duplicate of the former one, except that the new signature was that of one, Joseph Pringle.
"Where is Pringle?" Tom demanded.
"None of your business."