The Young Engineers in Nevada; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick

young steer," Dolph ordered, after he

he is," replied one

xtra roping, as I told yo

around Hazelton, until he felt as t

nd. "You young fellers will have to learn the lesson that you're thirty miles from anywhere, an

, allow me to tell you that you are making the

"A likely enough boy, from what I've heard of him.

in Colorado and in Arizona. I begin to realize that he isn't bright enough to have hi

ccording to his idea he has only to pick out what he wanted here; and take it. He never seems to understand

to your staying here,"

e no objection to his staying here, either. Fact i

us?" grin

make you stay here, if you

re difficult," s

that. Look around a bit, Eb," added Dolph, turning to one of his companions. "Perhaps you'd better get the f

you to loot our camp?" suggested Hazelton,

. That's why we've t

a

llow aside, and they were now lifting the assa

ut Dolph Gage. "Two men like you can get it over to camp. And bri

he pair were out of

en!" Gage roa

d in to nose a

f bushes there was a s

Reade lea

caught up. He was in the grip of

Gage, with a slight

Tom, hurling the fell

he was fairly Tom Reade's fist caught him in

fight, you young cub?

retorted, as the other again got to his feet

g points, though he rarely allowed himself to get into a fight. Indeed, his usually abounding good nature

ou had some sand in you!" Tom ordered

gasped. Indeed, his face

contemptuously. "Can't you figh

how you," snarled th

m jeered, and swung in another b

d Gage, with all th

o-o-o-ov

de. "You'll be done for lon

d when they get here

hoa

run. Tom let him go a few steps, then bounded after him with the speed of the sprin

begged Gage. "I'm

Tom. As Dolph would no longer stand up, Reade threw

ing in his pain and terror, for good-humored Reade seeme

. You villain, you've done nothing but annoy us and shoot at us ever si

Please stop yourself," begg

mered you, and I'm not half through with you. By the time I am through with you you'

eaty to one of dire threats. He would spend the rest of his life, he de

of heart--see if you don't," Tom rejoined grimly, as

uggled to his feet, th

m the cords that held

ite the way you did a

put in

red wretch. "Ask any one, and they'll tell you that Do

o teach something," jeered Hazelton, "Gage, you kn

as he caught sight of movi

m, Tom" advised the

oming on the run. Th

look out fo

where he lay on the ground moaning ove

e you free in a jiffy," Tom propo

n, as his chum began to slash at the cords. "The other scou

re of 'em both. You wait and see which one I take. Th

would return armed. But Harry had unlimited confidence in his friend, and so

called the voice of Eb,

poke Reade, springin

in him aft

s the trail was a scene of swift action, indeed. Shortly Eb and Josh tried to run away, as Gage

Harry!" Tom called, and drove i

followed Eb t

little while," declared

nfully risen to his feet and ca

your friends, Gage,"

eed att

ome to be here?

particulars when they h

quite so smart when o

a

have any sense you'll conclude that you've ha

at it wouldn't be wise to talk back So he began workin

h?" gasped Josh, as he opened his eye

aid Gag

y n

ut

re had passed when

er to your camp, any t

o

fully, the t

shamed of myself

d. "Yet what else wa

onsense we can from t

done something to bri

ve they'll l

sh us," predi

ve any guns to do it

became of

ow on earth who kn

were at th

the rest of the crew. Knowing you to be alone and unarmed, and believing me to be far away prospecting, they didn't imagine

s the st

and I'll

d Harry, as Tom leaped up

ha

ce. Eb and Josh

. "Our friends are so sore that it would be h

ps. Tom and Harry picked it up, carrying it back to where it had

d, "I think we had better st

h a thing as that fo

is warm

hed Tom quietly. "Come on and gather th

as not in evidence If he

mitation boy for his time an

rth some time and expense to see if we can't make

icket an eighth of a mile from camp. Here he produced from h

n to these,"

hat re

andy to steer off

ing the rifles about camp," Tom r

n that went to Dugo

that he carr

l the camp will look like an outdoor arsenal. We don't want these added rifles around camp

ing to do with t

ther expect to put these guns out wh

faith in human natur

what happens

the rifles open, extracting the cartridges. Then he stepped over

e known!" cr

were soon disposed

smiled Reade," and the barrels will be too croo

g to do with the c

hem," Tom answered briefly. "W

n satisfied, for Tom and Harry had already gotten the meal. But Reade, without a word of rebuke to thei

y Alf, built a large fire-pile in a gully at a safe distance from camp. The wood was saturated with

up through the trees. Then the volleying began, for Tom had caref

cartridges continued to e

aughed, back in camp. "Tom, who's going

eade replied. "We'll b

he en

m over here tonight," laughed Reade, as he r