nosis. Westlake was worthy enough. A good mate for
Molly, climbing up the ladder of education and culture to stand where
the engineer, well-bred, well-mannered, now stood, the two of them to go
on together....

"Shucks!" muttered Sandy. "And he ain't even seen her picture. I must
have been chewin' loco weed."

"What say?" asked Sam.

"I'm goin' to take a li'l' look-see," said Sandy. "I reckon they're
tryin' to git warmed up an' decide on what they'll do round here. No
tellin' how long they may take or what kind of deviltry that camp booze
may work 'em up to. I'm pritty certain no one saw us sneak out of the
tent afteh dahk."

If they had been seen no attempt might be made to dislodge them from the
claims. Sandy did not believe such effort would turn out to be a
shooting match,--unless the defenders started it,--but something more
underhanded. The flinging of a dynamite stick, if the throwers felt
certain of not being caught, was a possibility if enough crude whisky
had been absorbed. In all probability the crowd of ousted men were
making themselves conspicuous in the camp during the earlier hours of
the evening in view of a needed alibi. Nothing might happen until
midnight and the long vigil was not comfortable. Sandy vanished from the
tunnel mouth, sinking to the ground, instantly indistinguishable even to
Sam and Mormon. There was nothing to tell whether he had gone up-hill or
down. The momentary cessation of the cicadas' chorus was the only
warning that a human was abroad.

"Have a chaw?" Mormon whispered presently, after he had changed his
pose.

Sam took the plug tobacco and bit into it gratefully.

"I sure hate stickin' around, waitin'," he said under his breath. "Allus
makes me plumb nerv'us."

"Same here," answered Mormon. "Reckon it's that way with most men. Sandy
don't show it, 'cept by goin' out on a snoop."

"He can see, smell an' hear where we'd be deef, dumb an' blind," said
Sam. "Wonder what time it is? We've been here all of two hours already
'cordin' to them stars."

"What time does the moon rise?" asked Mormon.

"'Bout half past three or so. You figgerin' on wrastlin' Roarin' Russell
by moonlight, after we git through down here?"

"I've got a hunch this is goin' to be a busy night, plumb through till
sun-up," said Mormon. "An', when I meet up with Roarin' Russell it ain't
goin' to be jest a wrastlin match, believe me. It's goin' to be a
free-fo'-all exhibition of ground an' lofty tumbli