The boy alternately gazed at one and then the other for several moments in silence, and finally said in a threatening tone:
"A good many fellers have tried to get the best of me, but I allers made 'em sick before the job was finished."
"Now what are you drivin' at?" Skip asked, in well simulated surprise.
"If you don't know I won't waste time talking," was the reply, as Gus walked hurriedly away, and the boys saw him join his friend a short distance off.
"He's tumbled to our game," Skip said sadly, "an' I'd like to knock the head off the feller what put him up to it."
"That shows he knows something about the money."
"He may think we're on another racket; but there's no use loafin' 'round here. I'll go to the depot an' you find Bill."
Fred had no difficulty in following this last suggestion. The miner was already at the rendezvous, and when the details of the apparent failure had been given, he exclaimed angrily:
"It's all my fault, an' instead of helpin' Sam I've done him a power of harm."
"What do you mean?"