“I’ll take the bills,” said Drummond in a meaning tone.  “But you want to put it high.”

Thirlwell found it hard to control his anger.  Drummond had professed some liking for him and had made no secret of his devotion to Agatha, but now he was coolly bargaining with her antagonist.  It looked as if he was willing to betray her if he could get a good price.  For all that, Thirlwell saw that he must find out the plot and lay still behind the thicket, watching the lad.  Drummond’s pose was easy and his voice was calm.  He had not lighted the cigar Stormont gave him, and now and then twisted it round carelessly.

“Very well,” Stormont resumed.  “As I’ve got to bid against Thirlwell, I’ll risk five hundred dollars:  two hundred and fifty now.  Then, as soon as we make a good start, you can have a job in the company’s office.”

“Oh, shucks!” said Drummond.  “Five hundred dollars for a silver mine?  You can’t find the lode unless I put you wise.”

“That’s not going to bother us.  Thirlwell has left a trail we can follow without your help.  Well, you’ve heard my offer.  What do you say?”

“I’m thinking some.  I get two hundred and fifty dollars now, but what about the rest?  Suppose I have to wait until you put the job over?  How are you going to put it over when Thirlwell holds the claims?”

“They won’t be worth much after I get to work.  Going to law’s expensive and Thirlwell can’t stand up to the men who are backing me.  He’ll be glad to sell out at our price when we put the screw to him.”

This was illuminating to Thirlwell, since it justified his fears.  The mining regulations were complicated, and it was not unusual for unscrupulous speculators to dispute a poor man’s claim.  He knew of instances where grave injustice had been done.  Moreover, he noted that Stormont said nothing about Agatha, but thought him the prospective owner of the minerals.  People obviously took it for granted that he meant to marry the girl.

“Your job is to stop Thirlwell,” Stormont went on.  “The thing must be done cleverly and look like an accident.  The best plan would be to get at the canoes.  They’re hauled up side by side and you might perhaps set them on fire when he makes his caulking gum.  Or you might knock loose a plank or two in the bottom.  Anyhow, you’ll have to hold him up long enough for me to pull out his stakes.”

Thirlwell, burning with indignation, found it hard to keep still.  It was a cunning plot, because a few days’ delay might enable Stormont to re-stake the ground and file his record first.  If this were done, Agatha would have to bear the disadvantage of challenging his claim and, if the law expenses were heavy, might be forced to compromise.  Still, he controlled his rage.

“The thing’s not as easy as it looks,” Drummond replied.  “Thirlwell’s not a fool.  If you, want me to put it over, you’ll have to come up.”

“A good job in our office and six hundred dollars:  three hundred now.  If Thirlwell finds out and gets after you, come along to my camp.”