They were the waifs and strays of San Francisco wharves, of Sacramento dens, of dissolute mountain towns; and there was not, probably, a single actual miner among them.

A raging scorn and contempt took possession of Barker and Demorest, but Stacy knew their exact value.

As Steptoe passed before the opening of the tunnel he heard the cry of "Halt!" He looked up.

He saw Stacy not thirty yards before him with his rifle at half-cock.

He saw Barker and Demorest, fully armed, rise from behind their breastworks of rock along the ledge and thus fully occupy the claim.