"
The field agent did not understand the fury of the man, because he
did not know that these miners were working the claim under a defective
title and that they had jumped to the conclusion that he had come to get
evidence against them. But he knew that never in his life had he been
in a tighter hole. In another minute they would attack him. Whether it
would run to murder he could not tell. At the best he would be hammered
helpless.
But no evidence of this knowledge appeared in his manner.
"I didn't give my last name because there is a prejudice against me in
this country," he explained in an even voice.
He wondered as he spoke if he had better try to fling himself through
the window sash. There might be a remote chance that he could make it.
The miner at the table killed this possibility by rising and standing
squarely in the road.
"Look out! He's got a gat," warned Macy.
Gordon fervently wished he had. But he was unarmed. While his eyes
quested for a weapon he played for time.
"You can't get away with this, you know. The United States Government
is back of me. It's known I left the Willow Creek Camp. I'll be traced
here."
Through Gordon's mind there flashed a word of advice once given him by
a professional prize-fighter: "If you get in a rough house, don't wait
for the other fellow to hit first.
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