“Not such a bad day, considering the newness of us and the bridge at the head of the gulch,” he said, half to himself. And then more pointedly to the foreman: “Bridge-builders to the front at the first crack of dawn, Mike. Why wasn't this break filled in the grading?” “Sure, sorr, 'tis a dhrain it is,” said the Irishman; “from the placer up beyant,” he added, pointing to a washed-out excoriation on the steep upper slope of the mountain. “Major Evarts did be tellin' us we'd have the lawyers afther us hot-fut again if we didn't be lavin' ut open the full width.” “Mmph!” said Adams, looking the ground over with a critical eye. “It's a bad bit. It wouldn't take much to bring that whole slide down on us if it wasn't frozen solid. Who owns the placer?” “Two fellies over in Carbonate. The company did be thryin' to buy the claim, but the sharps wouldn't sell--bein' put up to hold ut by thim C. G. R. divils. It's more throuble we'll be havin' here, I'm thinking.” While they lingered a shrill whistle, echoing like an eldrich laugh among the cliffs of the upper gorge, announced the coming of a train from the direction of Carbonate. Adams looked at his watch. “I'd like to know what that is,” he mused. “It's an hour too soon for the accommodation. By Jove!” The exclamation directed itself at a one-car train which came thundering down the canyon to pull in on the siding beyond the Rosemary. The car was a passenger coach, well-lighted, and from his post on the embankment Adams could see armed men filling the windows. Michael Branagan saw them, too, and the fighting Celt in him rose to the occasion. “'Tis Donnybrook Fair we've come to this time, Misther Adams. Shall I call up the b'ys wid their guns?” “Not yet. Let's wait and see what happens.” What happened was a peaceful sortie. Two men, each with a kit of some kind borne in a sack, dropped from the car, crossed the creek, and struggled up the hill through the unbridged gap. Adams waited until they were fairly on the right of way, then he called down to them. “Halt, there! you two. This is corporation property.” “Not much it ain't!” retorted one of the trespassers gruffly. “It's the drain-way from our placer up yonder.” “What are you going to do up there at this time of night?” “None o' your blame business!” was the explosive counter-shot. “Perhaps it isn't,” said Adams mildly. “Just the same, I'm thirsting to know. Call it vulgar curiosity if you like.” “All right, you can know, and be cussed to you. We're goin' to work our claim. Got anything to say against it?”