“Or all of them,” amended California John drily.

[Footnote A:  “Nester”—­Western term meaning squatters, small settlers—­generally illegally such.]

XVI

The little council of war at once commenced an eager discussion of the names thus indicated.

“There’s your own concern, the Wolverine Company,” suggested Thorne.  “What do you know about the way it acquired its timber?”

“Acquired in 1879,” replied Amy, consulting her notes.  “Partly from the Bank, that held it on mortgage, and partly from individual owners.”

“Welton is no crook,” struck in Bob.  “Even if he’d strained the law, which I doubt; he wouldn’t defend himself at this late date with any method as indirect as this.”

“I think you’re right on the last point,” agreed Thorne.  “Proceed.”

“Next is the Marston N. Leavitt firm.”

“They bought their timber in a lump from a broker by the name of Robinson; and Robinson got it of the old Joncal [A] Mill outfit; and heaven knows where they got it,” put in California John.

“How long ago?”

“’84—­the last transfer,” said Amy.

“Doesn’t look as though the situation ought to alarm them to immediate and violent action,” observed Thorne.  “Aren’t there any more recent claims?” he asked Amy.

“Here’s one; the Modoc Mining Company, about one thousand mineral claims, amounting to approximately 28,000 acres, filed 1903.”

“That looks more promising.  Patents issued in the reign of our esteemed predecessor, Plant.”

“Where are most of the claims?” asked California John.

“All the claims are in the same place,” replied Amy.

“The Basin!” said Bob.

Amy recited the “descriptions” within whose boundaries lay the bulk of the claims.

“That’s it,” said Bob.

“Is there any real mineral there?” inquired Thorne.

“Not that anybody ever heard of,” said California John, who was himself an old miner; “but gold is where you find it,” he added cautiously.

“How’s the timber?”

“It’s the best stand I’ve seen in the mountains,” said Bob.

“Well,” observed Thorne, “of course it wouldn’t do to say so, but I think we’ve run against the source of our opposition in the Samuels case.”

“That explains Erbe’s taking the case,” put in Bob; “he’s counsel for most of these corporations.”

“The fact that this is not a mineral country,” continued Thorne, “together with the additional considerations of a thousand claims in so limited an area, and the recent date, makes it look suspicious.  I imagine the Modoc Mining Company intends to use a sawmill, rather more than a stamp mill.”

“Who are they?” asked California John.

“We must find that out.  Also we must ourselves ascertain just what colour of mineral there is over there.”