his Range long before Reade was out of school."

"And he doesn't object to your staying here," remarked Hazelton
calmly.

"That's good of him, I'm sure," snapped Gage. "I've no objection
to his staying here, either. Fact is, I'm going to encourage both
of you to stay here."

"Encourage us?" grinned Harry.

"Well, then, I'm going to make you stay here, if you like that word
any better."

"That will be more difficult," suggested Hazelton.

"First of all, we're going to tote your assay outfit over to our
camp. You won't be able to do much without that. Look around
a bit, Eb," added Dolph, turning to one of his companions. "Perhaps
you'd better get the furnace out first. Two of you can carry
it. I wish we had our other man back from Dugout. We need hands
here."

"Can't you use some of my muscle in helping you to loot our camp?"
suggested Hazelton, ironically. "I'm fairly strong, you know."

"Yes; I know you are. That's why we've tied you up," growled
Gage.

The man addressed as Eb had taken the other fellow aside, and
they were now lifting the assay furnace in order to decide how
heavy it was.

"It doesn't weigh much over a hundred and fifty pounds," called
out Dolph Gage. "Two men like you can get it over to camp. And
bring over our guns, too. It was a mistake to leave 'em over
in camp."

Gage watched until the pair were out of sight among the trees.

"Hurry, you men!" Gage roared after them.

Then he started in to nose around the camp.

As he passed a clump of bushes there was a slight stir among them.
Then Tom Reade leaped forth.

In a twinkling Dolph Gage had been caught up. He was in the grip
of a strong, trained football player.

"Drop me!" ordered Gage, with a slight quiver in his voice.

"I'm going to," agreed Tom, hurling the fellow fully a dozen feet.

With an oath Gage leaped to his feet. Before he was fairly Tom
Reade's fist caught him in the left eye, sending him to earth
once more.

"Is that the way you fight, you young cub?" roared Gage hoarsely.

"I can fight harder if you want me to," Tom retorted, as the other
again got to his feet. "Now, put your hands up, and I'll show you."

Tom went at it hammer and tongs. He was a splendidly built young
athlete, and boxing was one of his strong points, though he rarely
allowed himself to get into a fight. Indeed, his usually abounding
good nature made all fighting disagreeable to him. Now, however,
he drove in as though