im it was useless to talk of
violence. So they resumed their meeting and, as Denver owned a claim, he
found himself included in the membership. It was a belated revival of
the old-time Miners' Meeting, at one time the supreme law in Western
mining camps; and Bunker Hill, as Recorder of the district, presided
from his perch on the counter.

From his seat in the corner Denver listened apathetically as the miners
argued and wrangled, and the longer they talked the more it became
apparent that nothing was going to be done. The encounter with Dave had
cooled their courage, and more and more the sentiment began to lean
towards an appeal to the power of the law. But then it came out that the
law was an instrument which might operate as a two-edged sword; for
possession, and diligence in working the claim, are the two big points
in mining law and just at that moment a legal decision would be all in
favor of the jumpers. And if Murray was behind them, as all the
circumstances seemed to indicate, he would hire the most expensive
lawyers in the country and fight the case to a finish. No, if anything
was to be done they must find out some other way, or they would be
playing right into his hands.

"I'll tell you," proposed Bunker as the talk swung back to action,
"let's go back unarmed and talk to Dave again and find out what he
thinks he's doing. He can't hold Denver's claim, and those claims of
mine, because the work has just been done; and then, if we can talk him
into vacating our ground, maybe these other jaspers will quit."

"I'll go you!" said Denver rising up impatiently, "and if he won't
vacate my claim I'll try some other means and see if we can't persuade
him."

"That's the talk!" quavered the old prospector, slapping him heartily on
the back. "Lord love you, boy, if I was your age I'd be right up in
front there, shooting. Why, up in the Bradshaws in Seventy-three----"

"Never mind what you'd do if you had the nerve," broke in Bunker Hill
sarcastically. "Just because you've got a claim that you'd like to get
back is no reason for stirring up trouble. No, I'm willing to go ahead
and do all the talking; but I want you to understand--this is
_peaceable_."

"Well, all right," agreed the miners and, laying aside their pistols,
they started up the street for Denver's mine; but as Bunker led off a
voice called from the porch and his wife came hurrying after him. Behind
her followed Drusilla, reluctantly at first; but as h