Part 41 (1/2)

”Morning,” he said. ”I've come to notify you men to get off of this here claim. This ground belongs to me and my partners, by right of prior location--made right now.”

He thrust his stake a little into the yielding sand and had posted a notice, made out in due form, before the wet old workers by the sluice could conclude that the man had lost his wits.

”What you givin' us, anyway?” said Gettysburg, remaining ankle-deep in the mud. ”Don't you know this here is the 'Laughin' Water' claim, which was located proper----”

”This claim on the reservation,” interrupted McCoppet's agent. ”The line was run out yesterday, according to Government instructions, and the line takes in this ground.” He continued at his work.

Napoleon got stirred up then and there.

”You're a liar!” he cried out recklessly, ”--metaphorical speakin'.

Belay there, my hearty. You and your dog-gone pirate craft----”

McCoppet himself, on horseback, came riding down the slope.

”That's enough from you!” interrupted the gambler's agent. ”You and your crowd is liable for trespa.s.s, or Government prosecution, getting on the reservation land ahead of date. This ground belongs to me and my company, understand, with everything on it--and all the gold you've took out! And all you take away is your personal effects--and you take 'em and git, right now!”

”Now hold on,” said Gettysburg, dazed by what he heard. ”I seen that Government surveyor cuss. He said he was only running out a county line.”

McCoppet took the case in hand, as he halted by the boxes.

”Now, boys, don't waste your time in argument,” he said. ”You've made a mistake, that's all. Take my advice and hike to the reservation now, before the gang stakes everything in sight. You can't go up against the law, and you've done too much illegal work already.”

”Illegal?” cried Napoleon. ”You're a liar, Opal. Ain't mad, are you?

I've drunk at your saloon, and you know this claim belongs to Van and us!”

”Don't I say you've made a mistake?” repeated the gambler. ”I don't hold any feelings about it. n.o.body was on for a sure thing about the reservation line till Lawrence run it out. We had suspicions, from a study of the maps, but it took the Government surveyor to make the matter certain. It's a cinch you're on the reservation land. You can copper all your rights, and play to win the bet this claim belongs to me--and everything else that's any good. Now don't stop to talk. Go to Lawrence for Government facts--and git a-going p.r.o.nto.”

Gettysburg was pulling down his sleeves. Old age had suddenly claimed him for its own. The song had dried from his heart, and the light of his wonderful youth and hope departed from his eye. Dave was too stunned to think. All three felt the weight of conviction sink them in the chilling mire. The survey of the day before made doubt impossible.

Gettysburg looked at the boxes, the pits they had dug, the water running over the riffles, behind which lay the gold.

”I wish Van was to home,” he said. ”He'd know.”

Their helplessness without the absent Van was complete. In the game of life they were just old boys who would never become mature.

”Van Buren couldn't do no good,” McCoppet a.s.sured them. ”This ain't a matter of wrangling or fighting; it's a matter of law. If the law ain't with us you'll get the property back. Van Buren would tell you the same. He didn't know the ground was reservation. We give him the benefit of that. But all the gold you've got on the place you'll have to leave with me. You never had no rights on the Government preserves, and I'm here ahead of all the bunch in staking it out at six o'clock, the legal opening hour.”

Napoleon started to speak again, but glanced at Gettysburg instead. A bluff was useless, especially with Gettysburg looking so utterly defeated. From his tall, old partner, Napoleon looked at Dave.

”Can't we tack somewhere?” he said. ”Couldn't we hold the wheel and wait fer Van?”

Gettysburg repeated: ”I wish Van was to home.”

”Come on, come on,” McCoppet urged, beginning to lose his patience.

”If you think you've got any rights, go to Lawrence and see. You're trespa.s.sing here. I don't want to tell you harsh to pack your duds and hunt another game, but you can't stay here no longer.”

Gettysburg hesitated, then slowly came out of the water. He looked at the sluices hazily.

”Just gittin' her to pay,” he said. ”The only easy minin' I ever done.”