"Whose boss?" Tom inquired.
"Well, maybe he's yours," scowled the messenger. "And maybe you'll be sorry if you fool with him."
"I? Fool with Gage?" inquired Reade, opening his eyes in pretended astonishment. "My dear fellow, I've no intention of doing anything of the sort."
"Then you'll come over to our camp, right away?"
"Nothing like it," Tom replied. "Kindly present my compliments to your boss, and tell him that I have another appointment for today."
"You'd better come over," warned the fellow.
"You heard what I said, didn't you?" Reade inquired.
"There'll sure be trouble," insisted the fellow, scowling darkly.
"There's always trouble for those who are looking for it," Tom rejoined smilingly. "Is Dolph Gage hunting it?"
"You'll find out, if you don't come over!"