"Remember, nothing
like fighting! If they haven't filed notice in due form on the claim,
we're safe yet. If they have-----"
"Look!" hissed Ferrers.
At that moment Dolph Gage could be seen nailing a sheet of white
paper to a board driven into the soil.
"We've staked what you want, I reckon!" bellowed Gage laconically.
"Staked it in due form, too, if you want to know."
"I guess we've lost that claim," said Tom slowly.
"Have we?" hissed Jim Ferrers.
CHAPTER VII
READY TO HANDLE THE PICK
"Keep off this ground!" yelled Dolph Gage, snatching up his rifle.
"Stop that nonsense," Tom bellowed back in his own lusty voice.
"You've no right on this ground."
"Yes, we have, if you want to know," Tom continued. "You haven't
filed your papers at Dugout yet."
"How do you know we haven't?"
"I'll take a chance on it," smiled Tom amiably, as he and his
companions continued to walk nearer.
Jim Ferrers held his rifle so that it would take him but an instant
to swing it into action if the need came.
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