You an' I could swar, of course, thet the damned cusses hed changed the stakes on us more 'n onct, an' thar 's no doubt in our two minds but what they 're a-followin' out our ore-lead right now, afore we kin git down ter it.

Hell! of course they are--they got the fust start, an' the men, an' the money back of 'em.

We ain't got a darn thing but our own muscle, an' the rights of it, which latter don't amount ter two bumps on a log.

Fer about three weeks we 've been watchin' them measly skunks take out our mineral, an' for one I 'm a-goin' ter quit.

I never did knuckle down ter thet sort, an' I 'm too old now ter begin.