“Do they mean to attack you? Is that what you gathered from what he said?” asked the chief engineer of his assistant.
“Don’t know. Prowers smoothed over what Black said. I judge he didn’t want to go on record as having made any threats. But the last thing the big fellow yelled at me was that we had till to-night to get out.”
“Good of him to give you warning. What do you suggest, Jones?”
“Give me half a dozen rifles and I’ll hold the fort,” the younger man replied, eyes gleaming. “Double the gang and let me rush the work.”
Merrick shook his head. “No, this isn’t a little private war we’re having. Think I’ll just let you sit tight and see what happens. Prowers isn’t likely to go far to start with.”
“Suits me, but don’t blame me if they drive us out. I’m rather looking for a bunch of armed cowboys to descend upon us.”
“In which case you’ll enter a formal protest and retire in good order without resistance. The law’s with us. I filed our maps and plans with the Land Office before Black homesteaded. He obviously took up this quarter section only to hamper us.”
“Will it delay you much?”
Justin Merrick smiled, a rather peculiar smile that suggested a knowledge of facts not on the surface. “I don’t think so, but there’s no reason why Prowers shouldn’t.”
“Rather tame surrender, wouldn’t it be? If you’re within your rights, why not stand our ground and fight them off?”