It appeared very doubtful whether their patience or his conversational powers would hold out, but he meant to do what he could.
"I'm not quite as sure that you're going to move that post as you seem to be; and, anyway, I don't quite see why you want to do it," he said.
"You can't take possession of a duly recorded claim." The jumper laughed.
"Your record won't hold.

You should have made it clearer; given two-point bearings, or blazed your line on trees." "Why ?" asked Devine.

"This post fixes the key boundary." "Trouble is that we're going to move that post," said the other man.
He did not appear impatient, and Devine deduced two things from the fact that he was willing to discuss the matter.

One was that the jumper, who evidently had not met the Indian, was unaware that the men from the settlement were then in all probability pushing on as fast as possible through the brulee, and the other that the man had no desire to proceed to extremities.

This was reassuring as far as it went, but it must be admitted that the surveyor was afterward a little astonished at his collectedness and perspicacity.
"Why don't you want to move all the posts ?" he asked.
"We couldn't square that with your record," was the candid answer.
"Moving one will swing you across instead of along the lead, and will let in our new location.