“Indeed!” said Dooley, somewhat staggered. “How do you disprove that?”
“Easy enough. My right to it is indisputable, and confirmed by the law of prior discovery. The gold is mine!”
Dooley drew a deep, sharp breath. Matters were becoming strained.
“I disagree with you,” he said.
“Eh?” roared Beere.
“I do not agree with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just this: We have as much title to that gold as you. It was to have been equally divided at the time. It shall be so now.”
“By what authority?” asked Beere.
“The authority of fair play. We have come thousands of miles, have dared death in every form, and we are not in a mood to sacrifice the prime object of our expedition.”