Drummond had inherited his father's grim Scottish
stubbornness. He rolled over with Stormont, and then getting uppermost,
savagely bumped his head against the rock. This gave Thirlwell his
opportunity, and seizing the lad's shoulders, he pressed his knee
against the small of his back.

"Stop!" he shouted. "Do you mean to kill the man?"

"Sure!" gasped Drummond. "Lemme go!"

"You'd better quit. I've got you tight."

Drummond struggled furiously, but since he could not turn round found it
impossible to break loose. His hands, however, were free and he gave
Stormont's head another violent bump. Then Thirlwell, using his knee as
a fulcrum, pulled the lad's shoulders back until he cried out with pain
and let go. Thirlwell threw him off and stepped between the two before
they could get up.

"This has got to stop and I'm fresh and able to see it does stop. If you
try to start again, Drummond, I'll throw you into the lake," he said,
and turned to Stormont, who did not move. "Get up."

Stormont did so, shakily. "I suppose you had this thing fixed with him!"

"I had not. I came along by accident and it might have been better if
I'd left you to Drummond and gone off again. It was rather for his sake
than yours I butted in. Can you walk?"

Stormont said he thought he could, and Thirlwell indicated the bush.
"Then get off and take the hint that it's prudent to leave the Agatha
Mine alone."

When Stormont had gone, Thirlwell turned to Drummond, who was now
standing up. "Are you hurt?"

"Not much. I don't mind if I am hurt, so long as Stormont is. But why in
thunder did you come just then?"

"It's lucky I did," said Thirlwell dryly. "I think you saw he wanted to
get that stone?"

"Sure; I meant to let him. Wanted him to fire the rock and begin the
circus. Then, when he'd made me mad enough, I'd have finished it."

"It would have been awkward if he'd brought a pistol."

Drummond smiled. "He thought he had, but he'd forgot the thing. I'd been
studying his clothes; blue shirt and thin overalls. There wasn't a
bulge." Then he stooped and picked up a crumpled bill. "Five dollars;
don't see much use in leaving money lying round."

He hesitated, and then putting the bill in his pocket, remarked:
"Anyhow, he gave me the wad. Let's see if I can find another."

Thirlwell laughed and told him to rest for a few minutes, because he
wanted to think. Stormont had obviously returned to what he imagined was
a good center to work fr