A small amount of lumber was scattered here and there, as if placed in readiness to be used, and a temporary camp had been erected close beside the coal vein.
The men had but just awakened when he arrived, and in reply to his angry question of why they were there, one of them asked impudently:
"What business is it of yours?"
"I happen to own a quarter of this land, an' it'll be hot for all hands if there's any attempt at puttin' up a building."
"It'll take us about two minutes to clean you out, an' we'll do it, if you so much as yip again."
Joe was literally trembling with rage. He fancied a portion of his title to the tract would be lost, if he did not drive the intruders away, and before the spokesman had time to defend himself against an attack, the miner knocked him headlong with one well-directed blow. Then, picking up an axe which lay near by, he made such a furious onslaught upon the remainder of the party that they scattered in every direction.
Instead of following, he chopped and tore at the camp until it was demolished, and then destroyed all the provisions it had contained, in addition to pounding into shapeless masses the tin cooking utensils.
By this time the carpenters got their scattered forces together and were marching in a body against the man who had put them to flight.
In the immediate vicinity of the camp were stored nearly all the tools, and, standing over these, Joe shouted:
"As true as my name's Brace I'll kill the first man who comes here," and he brandished the axe above his head.