"Fix your own price and I'll double it."
"Will you come with me up this trail a little way?" Dan inquired.
"Certainly."
"There's a spot where I'd like to have you stand. I'll save you the trouble of walking back to your men—you'll beat the echo."
There was a pause while Gordon digested this. "Better think it over," he said at length. "I'll never let O'Neil build his road, not if it breaks me, and you're merely laying yourself open to arrest by threatening me."
"Please come with me!" urged Appleton. "You'll never know what hit you."
With a curse the promoter wheeled and walked swiftly down the trail by which he had come.
"Get ready to shoot," Dan ordered when he had returned to his vantage-point. A few moments later he saw the invading party approach, but he withheld his warning shout until it was close at hand. Evidently Gordon did not believe he would have the reckless courage to carry out his threat, and had determined to put him to the test.
The engineer gauged his distance nicely, and when the new-comers had fairly passed within the danger zone he gave the signal to fire.
A blast heavier than the one which had discouraged Gordon's advance followed his command, and down upon the new-comers rained a deluge which sent them scurrying to cover. Fortunately no one was injured.