Although he had no grounds for distrusting Drummond, he had marked certain weaknesses in his character. The lad might have gone to fish, but Thirlwell had not seen him make a rod, and remembering the falling stone resolved to find out. The wood was thin, but the light was dim, and the turmoil of the creek would drown any noise he made. After walking obliquely inland for some distance he stopped to listen. He heard nothing, but Drummond was now between him and the lake, and Thirlwell thought he could not get across the creek. He came down to the mouth of the latter cautiously, and when he was close to the lake stopped behind a trunk. The water glimmered between the trees, and he saw two dark figures outlined against the pale reflection.
There was some risk of his being seen, but he thought if Drummond was afraid he might be followed, he would watch the bush along the edge of the lake, and he advanced cautiously, moving from trunk to trunk. A thicket of wild-berries grew near the water, and stealing up behind it, he stopped and crouched down. Drummond was perhaps a dozen yards off, and stood, holding a fishing-rod, while Stormont sat on a fallen log opposite. Thirlwell clenched his fist and listened. He could hear them talk.
"How"d you know you"d find me here?" Drummond asked.
"I didn"t know," said Stormont; "it was good luck. I wanted to find out if Thirlwell had finished the canoes. One can see into your camp from the top of the high ground, and I"ve brought good gla.s.ses."
It was plain that Drummond had not gone to meet the fellow, and Thirlwell saw that he had, to some extent, misjudged the lad. For all that, Drummond had reached the spot a few minutes before he did, and something had obviously been said in the meantime. If possible, he must find out what they had talked about.
"Take a smoke; this is a pretty good cigar," Stormont resumed. "You"ll let a soft snap go if you don"t do what I want."
"You put me on to a soft snap before," Drummond remarked with a touch of scorn.
"I think you got fifty dollars--for nothing. Anyhow, I want you and I"m willing to pay in advance."
"With a cheque that can be stopped!"
Stormont laughed. "No. I don"t pay for this kind of job by cheque. You can have it in bills; I"ve got a wad in my pocket. Better take your money now than trust Thirlwell to let you in when he makes good his claim; but if you like, I"ll give you some stock when we float our company."
"I"ll take the bills," said Drummond in a meaning tone. "But you want to put it high."
Thirlwell found it hard to control his anger. Drummond had professed some liking for him and had made no secret of his devotion to Agatha, but now he was coolly bargaining with her antagonist. It looked as if he was willing to betray her if he could get a good price. For all that, Thirlwell saw that he must find out the plot and lay still behind the thicket, watching the lad. Drummond"s pose was easy and his voice was calm. He had not lighted the cigar Stormont gave him, and now and then twisted it round carelessly.
"Very well," Stormont resumed. "As I"ve got to bid against Thirlwell, I"ll risk five hundred dollars: two hundred and fifty now. Then, as soon as we make a good start, you can have a job in the company"s office."
"Oh, shucks!" said Drummond. "Five hundred dollars for a silver mine?
You can"t find the lode unless I put you wise."
"That"s not going to bother us. Thirlwell has left a trail we can follow without your help. Well, you"ve heard my offer. What do you say?"
"I"m thinking some. I get two hundred and fifty dollars now, but what about the rest? Suppose I have to wait until you put the job over? How are you going to put it over when Thirlwell holds the claims?"
"They won"t be worth much after I get to work. Going to law"s expensive and Thirlwell can"t stand up to the men who are backing me. He"ll be glad to sell out at our price when we put the screw to him."
This was illuminating to Thirlwell, since it justified his fears. The mining regulations were complicated, and it was not unusual for unscrupulous speculators to dispute a poor man"s claim. He knew of instances where grave injustice had been done. Moreover, he noted that Stormont said nothing about Agatha, but thought him the prospective owner of the minerals. People obviously took it for granted that he meant to marry the girl.
"Your job is to stop Thirlwell," Stormont went on. "The thing must be done cleverly and look like an accident. The best plan would be to get at the canoes. They"re hauled up side by side and you might perhaps set them on fire when he makes his caulking gum. Or you might knock loose a plank or two in the bottom. Anyhow, you"ll have to hold him up long enough for me to pull out his stakes."
Thirlwell, burning with indignation, found it hard to keep still. It was a cunning plot, because a few days" delay might enable Stormont to re-stake the ground and file his record first. If this were done, Agatha would have to bear the disadvantage of challenging his claim and, if the law expenses were heavy, might be forced to compromise. Still, he controlled his rage.
"The thing"s not as easy as it looks," Drummond replied. "Thirlwell"s not a fool. If you, want me to put it over, you"ll have to come up."
"A good job in our office and six hundred dollars: three hundred now. If Thirlwell finds out and gets after you, come along to my camp."
"Where is your camp?"
"Behind some rocks, about two miles up the lake. Follow the creek and you"ll come to a log that has fallen across."
"Very well; I"ll take the money."
Stormont pulled out his wallet, and then Thirlwell came near to betraying himself, because the dramatic surprise was almost too much for his self-control. Drummond s.n.a.t.c.hed the bills from the other"s hand and laughed, a savage, scornful laugh.
"You thieving hog; you blasted _fool_!" he cried.
"What d"you mean?" Stormont shouted, springing to his feet.
"Did you think you could play me for a sucker _twice_?" Drummond rejoined. "Three hundred dollars, for my claim on the lode? That"s what it comes to, and I reckon that"s all I"d get!" He flung out his hand, scattering the crumpled bills. "There"s your dirty money. I"ve got you corralled!"
Stormont was quiet; dangerously quiet Thirlwell thought, because it was obvious that Drummond had led him on until he learned his plans. He stooped and began to pick up the bills, moving about, for the bits of paper were scattered and indistinct. One had fallen by a heavy stone, and Thirlwell felt his nerves tingle as Stormont got nearer. Drummond did not seem to be suspicious; his pose was careless, and Thirlwell imagined the lad was enjoying his triumph. Both thought they were alone and they stood on a ledge that ran out into deep water.
Then Stormont clutched the stone and Thirlwell sprang to his feet. The fellow"s caution had given way; mocked and cheated by the lad he meant to use, he had suddenly become primitive in his disappointed greed and rage. It looked as if Drummond did not know his danger; but as Thirlwell ran forward Stormont lifted the stone and the lad leaped upon him like a wild cat.
Thirlwell stopped. For the moment he did not see how he could interfere without doing harm, and thought Drummond did not need his help. The men were locked in a savage grapple at the edge of the ledge and the ripples splashed upon the rocks four or five feet below. Stormont had been deceived to the end. It is hard for a white man to match the instinctive cunning that goes with a strain of Indian blood, and Drummond had suspected that the other meant to pick up the stone.
Neither saw Thirlwell. They swayed and panted, striking when they got an arm loose, and then pressing body against body while each strained for a grip to lift his antagonist from his feet. Stormont, indeed, made a better fight than Thirlwell had expected, but after a time his knees bent, his head went back, and Drummond threw him heavily. When he struck the ground he felt for his pocket, but Drummond fell upon him with a cry that was like a wild beast"s howl.
Thirlwell saw it was time to interfere. An Indian never forgets an injury, and Drummond had inherited his father"s grim Scottish stubbornness. He rolled over with Stormont, and then getting uppermost, savagely b.u.mped his head against the rock. This gave Thirlwell his opportunity, and seizing the lad"s shoulders, he pressed his knee against the small of his back.
"Stop!" he shouted. "Do you mean to kill the man?"
"Sure!" gasped Drummond. "Lemme go!"
"You"d better quit. I"ve got you tight."
Drummond struggled furiously, but since he could not turn round found it impossible to break loose. His hands, however, were free and he gave Stormont"s head another violent b.u.mp. Then Thirlwell, using his knee as a fulcrum, pulled the lad"s shoulders back until he cried out with pain and let go. Thirlwell threw him off and stepped between the two before they could get up.
"This has got to stop and I"m fresh and able to see it does stop. If you try to start again, Drummond, I"ll throw you into the lake," he said, and turned to Stormont, who did not move. "Get up."
Stormont did so, shakily. "I suppose you had this thing fixed with him!"
"I had not. I came along by accident and it might have been better if I"d left you to Drummond and gone off again. It was rather for his sake than yours I b.u.t.ted in. Can you walk?"
Stormont said he thought he could, and Thirlwell indicated the bush.
"Then get off and take the hint that it"s prudent to leave the Agatha Mine alone."
When Stormont had gone, Thirlwell turned to Drummond, who was now standing up. "Are you hurt?"
"Not much. I don"t mind if I am hurt, so long as Stormont is. But why in thunder did you come just then?"
"It"s lucky I did," said Thirlwell dryly. "I think you saw he wanted to get that stone?"
"Sure; I meant to let him. Wanted him to fire the rock and begin the circus. Then, when he"d made me mad enough, I"d have finished it."
"It would have been awkward if he"d brought a pistol."
Drummond smiled. "He thought he had, but he"d forgot the thing. I"d been studying his clothes; blue shirt and thin overalls. There wasn"t a bulge." Then he stooped and picked up a crumpled bill. "Five dollars; don"t see much use in leaving money lying round."
He hesitated, and then putting the bill in his pocket, remarked: "Anyhow, he gave me the wad. Let"s see if I can find another."