not be
seized in case a sudden rush was made, and then, as he afterward said,
"read the riot act" to the trespassers.

Matters were in this condition when Fred and the surveyors arrived.

The carpenters were seated on the ground a short distance away, while
Joe remained perched on the ruins of the hut calmly smoking his pipe;
but prepared for any attack, however sudden.

"Go back to Blacktown and tell the lawyer to send some officers," the
miner cried, "These beauties are countin' on buildin' a house right
here, I'll hold 'em off till they can be arrested."

"Oh, yes you will," one of the party shouted. "Wait till the crowd get
here from Farley's, an' then we'll see who runs this place."

Joe brandished his axe, as an intimation of what he was prepared to do,
and cried to Fred who stood in silent astonishment a few paces away:

"Hurry on, lad, there's no time to be lost!"

This roused Fred to a sense of the necessity for immediate action, and
he started off at full speed.

The surveyors thinking quite naturally that they were not included in
the hostilities, made ready to perform the work for which they had been
engaged; but no sooner were the instruments set up than the carpenters
made a dash at them, crying:

"If we have to lay still you shall do the same. Stand back an' wait till
Mr. Wright comes."

"Stick to your job, an' if one will help me, I'll get rid of the whole
boiling," Joe cried as he advanced.

"Look here, my friend," the elder of the surveying party said in a low
tone, "I understand something about this fight, and don't propose to get
mixed up in what isn't really any of my business. We'll run the lines,
if nobody molests us; but won't put ourselves out to do it."

"Then I can't count on you?"

"Not at all; this is too serious business for us to be involved in. If
you want to buy a good revolver, though, I'll sell one cheap, and take
my pay when we meet in Blacktown.

"You're a brick," Joe cried, enthusiastically. "Give me the shooter, an'
I'll guarantee to pay any price for it."

The weapon was delivered, and the miner left his fortification, marching
directly toward the enemy.

"I give you a fair warnin' to clear out," he said, leveling the
revolver. "This is my land, an' I order every one to leave. These
surveyors are here to run the lines for my partners an' me. The first
who interferes with em' will get a ball. I ain't talkin' foolish, for
you know the law will uphold me in defen