“With John Peep?”
“Yes. I know he is interested in the Crayton claim, and he’s stolen those deeds from me. I’m going to get them back,” and Chet approached the man with determination.
“You keep away from me, you young snipe!” growled the man. “When I get out o’ this I’ll make you sweat.”
“You’re going to perspire yourself, mister, I should think,” said Dig, giggling. “We have you right. You stole from us—”
“Nothing of the kind!” blustered the fellow. “We never saw you before.”
“I think we recognise that blanket and those pots and pans,” said Chet gravely. “You needn’t tell stories about it. You robbed us and now we’re going to take our things back.”
“We ought to drive them along to Grub Stake, too,” suggested Dig, “and turn them over to the police.”
“You young smart Alecks will get your comeuppance,” muttered the man. “You let me loose or it will be the worse for you.”
“How about me?” bawled Tony. “I’ll break ’em in two if I git my hands on ’em. That boy of old Havens’ ’specially.”
Chet meanwhile had approached the black-hatted man, and now he began to search his pockets. The man used frightful threats to check him; but Chet was not to be stopped.