ectly sure of his next move--like a man who has seen a snake in the
road and turns back to cut a club. It was distinctly threatening and a
light dawned on Denver when the automobile turned off towards Murray's
camp. That was it, he was an agent of Murray.

Denver sharpened up his steel and put in a round of holes but all that
day and the next his uneasiness grew until he jumped at every sound. He
felt the hostility of Colonel Dodge's silence more than any that words
could express; and when, on the second day, he saw Professor
Diffenderfer approaching he stopped his work to watch him.

"Vell, how are you?" began the Professor, trying to warm up their
ancient friendship; and then, seeing that Denver merely bristled the
more, he cast off his cloak of well-wishing. "I vas yoost over to
Murray's camp," he burst out vindictively, "and Dave said he vanted his
gun."

"Tell 'im to come over and get it," suggested Denver and then he
unbuckled his belt. "All right," he said handing over the gun and
cartridges, "here it is; I don't need it, anyhow." The Professor blinked
and looked again, then reached out and took the belt doubtfully.

"Vot you mean?" he asked at last as his curiosity got the better of him,
"have you got anudder gun somevhere? Dot Dave, he svears he vill kill
you."

"That's all right," replied Denver, "just give him his gun--I'll take
him on any day, with rocks."

"How you mean 'take him on?'" inquired the Professor all excitement but
Denver waved him away.

"Go on now," he said, "and give him his gun. I guess he'll know what I
mean."

But if Chatwourth understood the hidden taunt he did not respond to the
challenge and Denver's mind reverted to H. Parkinson Dodge and his
flattering offers for the mine. Ten thousand dollars cash, from a mining
promoter, was indeed a princely sum; better by far than the offer of
half a million shares that went with Bunker's option. For stock is the
sop that is thrown to poor miners in lieu of the good hard cash, but ten
thousand dollars was a lot of money for a promoter to pay for a claim.
It showed that there were others beside himself who believed in the
value of his property, yet who this Colonel Dodge was or who were his
backers was a question that only Bunker could answer. Denver waited in a
sweat, now wondering if Bunker would speak to him, nor exulting in the
offer for his mine; and when at last he saw Bunker Hill drive in he
threw down his tools and hurried towards