shucks!" said Drummond. "Five hundred dollars for a silver mine?
You can't find the lode unless I put you wise."

"That's not going to bother us. Thirlwell has left a trail we can follow
without your help. Well, you've heard my offer. What do you say?"

"I'm thinking some. I get two hundred and fifty dollars now, but what
about the rest? Suppose I have to wait until you put the job over? How
are you going to put it over when Thirlwell holds the claims?"

"They won't be worth much after I get to work. Going to law's expensive
and Thirlwell can't stand up to the men who are backing me. He'll be
glad to sell out at our price when we put the screw to him."

This was illuminating to Thirlwell, since it justified his fears. The
mining regulations were complicated, and it was not unusual for
unscrupulous speculators to dispute a poor man's claim. He knew of
instances where grave injustice had been done. Moreover, he noted that
Stormont said nothing about Agatha, but thought him the prospective
owner of the minerals. People obviously took it for granted that he
meant to marry the girl.

"Your job is to stop Thirlwell," Stormont went on. "The thing must be
done cleverly and look like an accident. The best plan would be to get
at the canoes. They're hauled up side by side and you might perhaps set
them on fire when he makes his caulking gum. Or you might knock loose a
plank or two in the bottom. Anyhow, you'll have to hold him up long
enough for me to pull out his stakes."

Thirlwell, burning with indignation, found it hard to keep still. It was
a cunning plot, because a few days' delay might enable Stormont to
re-stake the ground and file his record first. If this were done, Agatha
would have to bear the disadvantage of challenging his claim and, if the
law expenses were heavy, might be forced to compromise. Still, he
controlled his rage.

"The thing's not as easy as it looks," Drummond replied. "Thirlwell's
not a fool. If you, want me to put it over, you'll have to come up."

"A good job in our office and six hundred dollars: three hundred now. If
Thirlwell finds out and gets after you, come along to my camp."

"Where is your camp?"

"Behind some rocks, about two miles up the lake. Follow the creek and
you'll come to a log that has fallen across."

"Very well; I'll take the money."

Stormont pulled out his wallet, and then Thirlwell came near to
betraying himself, because the dramatic surprise was almost too much