t half-past four. At a quarter of six they returned, to their shack
and began at their daily work.

The cold mountain stream, diverted to the sluices, went purling down
over the riffles. The drip from countless negligible leaks commenced
in its monotony. Into the puddles of mud and water the three old
miners sloshed, with shovels and picks in hand. They were tired before
their work began. Gettysburg, at sixty-five, had been tired for
twenty-five years. Nevertheless, he began his day with song, his
cheery,

Rinktum bolly kimo.

They were only fairly limbered up when four active men appeared
abruptly on the property, at the corners of the claim, and began the
work of putting up white location posts, after knocking others down.
They were agents employed by McCoppet, in behalf of Bostwick and
himself.

Napoleon was the first to note their presence. He was calling
attention to the nearest man when a fifth man appeared by the cabin.
He, too, had a new location post, or stake, to be planted at the center
of the claim. He was not only armed as to weapons, but protruding from
his pocket was a wad of "legal" documents, more to be feared than his
gun.

He came straight towards Gettysburg, walking briskly.

"Morning," he said. "I've come to notify you men to get off of this
here claim. This ground belongs to me and my partners, by right of
prior location--made right now."

He thrust his stake a little into the yielding sand and had posted a
notice, made out in due form, before the wet old workers by the sluice
could conclude that the man had lost his wits.

"What you givin' us, anyway?" said Gettysburg, remaining ankle-deep in
the mud. "Don't you know this here is the 'Laughin' Water' claim,
which was located proper----"

"This claim on the reservation," interrupted McCoppet's agent. "The
line was run out yesterday, according to Government instructions, and
the line takes in this ground." He continued at his work.

Napoleon got stirred up then and there.

"You're a liar!" he cried out recklessly, "--metaphorical speakin'.
Belay there, my hearty. You and your dog-gone pirate craft----"

McCoppet himself, on horseback, came riding down the slope.

"That's enough from you!" interrupted the gambler's agent. "You and
your crowd is liable for trespass, or Government prosecution, getting
on the reservation land ahead of date. This ground belongs to me and
my company, understand, with everything on