"Whoop!" shouted the man; and the crowd jeered.
"What th' hell right has Her Majesty got in Black Elk, anyhow?" went on the leader. "The Black Elk miners is the boys to run that country. An' they want us in. An' we're gain' in! See?"
He thrust his lowering face to within an inch of the Inspector's.
"Get your men an' your pop-gun out o' th' way!" the thug continued. "An' no one'll be hurt! Out o' th' way, you——!"
And he put out his hand to thrust Gemmell aside.
"Hard words!" smiled the Inspector.
Then he flicked the man across the mouth.
A shriek of anger rose from the crowd. The leader, his face crimson, whipped out a revolver and pointed it at Gemmell.
"Out o' th' way!" he roared.
"We're on Canadian soil. You've broken the law!"