"Where are most of the claims?" asked California John.
"All the claims are in the same place," replied Amy.
"The Basin!" said Bob.
Amy recited the "descriptions" within whose boundaries lay the bulk of the claims.
"That's it," said Bob.
"Is there any real mineral there?" inquired Thorne.
"Not that anybody ever heard of," said California John, who was himself an old miner; "but gold is where you find it," he added cautiously.
"How's the timber?"
"It's the best stand I've seen in the mountains," said Bob.
"Well," observed Thorne, "of course it wouldn't do to say so, but I think we've run against the source of our opposition in the Samuels case."