As far as I can figure, there can't be more than four of them." That appeared to Devine quite enough, but he recognized the necessity for a determined opposition.

He knew that he had framed his record before the Gold Commissioner, and that it would not be difficult for the men who pulled up that stake to swing his claim a little off the richest of the lead.

This would give them an opportunity for staking off a good deal of the strip he meant to hold, and once they took possession it would be a case of proving them wrong; and when it came to testimony, they were two to one.

He felt sincerely sorry that Saunders had not sent the boys word of his discovery a little earlier.
In the meanwhile the rustling had ceased once more, and Devine felt the silence react upon his nerves.

What the strangers were doing he could not tell, but he fancied that they must be consulting together somewhere among the trees.