“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 bump.  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 butted 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.”

Thirlwell laughed and told him to rest for a few minutes, because he wanted to think.  Stormont had obviously returned to what he imagined was a good center to work from in his search for the vein, and had seen the smoke of Thirlwell’s fire.  He could now follow back the latter’s trail and then make for the Record Office after altering the stakes.  If he did so, the probability was that he would arrive too late, but accidents often happen in the bush and Thirlwell meant to leave nothing to luck.  Moreover, Stormont had given him a hint when he tried to bribe Drummond to damage the canoes.  In the wilds, travel depends upon the means of transport, since one cannot go far without food, and Thirlwell did not see why he should not carry on the game Stormont had meant to play.  He told Drummond his plan.