Joe whistled as he passed on, to show how little concern he felt at meeting the two whom he considered enemies, but he whispered to Fred when they were farther down the mountain:
"I want to know what them fellers are doin' out here. It looks as if some crooked work was goin' on."
"They can't run away with the vein," Fred replied laughingly, "and I don't see how their being in this vicinity can hurt us."
"Nor I; but it won't do any harm to watch 'em. They're none too honest to play any kind of a mean trick."
"It's too late to turn now, for they'd surely know what we were up to."
"We can keep on a little farther, an' then double back under cover of the trees."
"All right. I don't suppose it will make much difference if we loaf a bit."
Joe walked straight ahead until they were within shelter of a line of foliage, and then turning sharply to the left, circled around the side of the mountain to a point just above the vein, where the two men could be plainly seen, while the watchers were hidden among the bushes.
Mr. Wright and the cashier at first sight appeared to be walking aimlessly to and fro, as if calculating the width of the coal mine, and now and then the former stooped to pull up a stake, which he placed in another position.
"It looks as if they was figgerin' how wide the slope would have to be," Joe whispered. "I reckon we've wasted our time sneakin' over here."