Whew! I had quite a run." Gale paused in his tracks and looked at the young man queerly.
"What do you mean ?" "I've jumped those claims myself." "YOU jumped them!" cried Necia.
"Sure! I changed my mind about staking." "It's a lie!" cried Runnion, at which Burrell whirled on him.
"I've been waiting for this, Runnion--ever since you came back.

Now--" "I mean you haven't had time," the other temporized, hurriedly.
"Oh, that sounds better! If you don't believe me take a look for yourself; you'll find my notice just beneath Miss Gale's." Then to "No Creek" Lee he continued, "Kindly record them for me so there will be no question of priority." "I'll be damned if I do!" said the belligerent recorder.

"You're worse'n these crooks.

That ground belongs to Necia Gale." Up to this time Stark had remained silent, his impassive face betraying not a shadow of chagrin, for he was a good loser; but now he spoke at large.
"Anybody who thinks the American army is asleep is crazy." Then to Burrell, "You certainly are a nice young man to double-cross your friends like that." "You're no friend of mine," Meade retorted.
"I?
What do you mean ?" "I double-crossed you, Stark, nobody else." The Kentuckian glared at him with a look like that which Runnion had seen in his face on that first day at the trading-post.

The thought of these five men banded together to rob this little maid had caused a giddiness to rise up in him, and his passions were beginning to whirl and dance.
"There's no use mouthing words about it," said he.