" ordered the gunman sternly, "or I'll kill
you, sure as hell."

Rimrock swayed back and forth as he clung to a bush that he had
clutched in his first lurching fall and as he labored for breath he
gazed about wildly at the unfamiliar faces of the men.

"Who are you boys?" he asked at last and as nobody answered him he
glanced swiftly back down the trail.

"It's no use to try that," said the gunman shortly, "you can't rush us,
behind the wall."

"Oh, I've got no men," answered Rimrock quickly, "those fellows are
just coming along. I'm Henry Jones and I came to warn you gentlemen
you're trespassing on one of my claims."

"Can't help it," said the guard, "we're here under orders to kill you
if you come over this line."

He indicated the wall which barred the way to the location notice of
the claim and Rimrock hitched his belt to the left.

"Show me your papers," he said. "You've got no right to kill any man
until you prove that this claim is yours."

That hitch of the belt had brought his heavy six-shooter well around on
the side of his leg and as the gunmen watched him he looked them over,
still struggling to get back his breath. Then as no one moved he
advanced deliberately and put his hand on the wall.

"Now," he said, "you show me your authority or I'll come over there and
put you off."

There was a stir in the ranks of the grim-faced gun-fighters and their
captain looked behind. Not forty feet away on the flat floor of the
mesa was the shaft of the Old Juan claim and, tacked to the post that
rose up from its rockpile was a new, unweathered notice.

"That's the notice," said the captain, "but you stay where you are.
You knock down that wall and you'll get killed!"

"Killed nothing!" burst out Rimrock contemptuously, "you're afraid to
shoot me!" And looking him straight in the eyes, he pushed the top
rock off the wall.

"Now!" he said after a moment's silence as the gunmen moved uneasily
about, "I'll do that again, and I'll keep on doing it until you show me
that this ain't my claim."

"Mr. McBain!" called the captain and as Rimrock clutched at his pistol
he found a gun thrust against his stomach.

"You make a crooked move," warned the captain sharply, "and----"

He stopped for up from the mouth of the Old Juan shaft came the head of
Andrew McBain.

"Ah, hiding in a hole," spoke up Rimrock sneeringly, as McBain opened
his mouth to talk. "I'd like to work for a man like you. Say, boys,
take