This treatment Buffalo Billy was not the person to stand, and the result was one of his foes struck him one night without the slightest cause. The result was a general row, for Billy's friends at once backed him in resenting the blow, and, though the fracas lasted but a few minutes, there were several burials next day as the result. Of course this made Billy more disliked by those who, without reason, had become his foes, and to add to their dislike, he one day struck a rich vein that promised to pan out well in ore. A few days he toiled in his lead, laying up considerable sums by his work, and one morning, as he went to his mine, he found it occupied by two rough-looking men whom he did not remember to have ever seen before. "Well, pards, I guess you're up the wrong tree," he said, pleasantly. "I guesses not; this are our lead," said one, rudely. "How do you make that out?" "We staked it months ago, and was called away, and now we has returned to it." "Well, I believe you both to be lying, and until you prove it's your claim you can't have it," was the bold reply. "Who's goin' ter say no?" "I am." "You!" "Yes." "Who is you?" "I am named William Frederick Cody." "You has handle enough." "I have more than that." "Waal." "I'm called Buffalo Billy." "We has heer'd o' you as a chap as has too much cheek fer one so young." "Then if you know me you will understand that though I am but a boy I won't let you walk away with my claim." "Get out, boy." Billy obeyed; that is he went down to the camps and consulted his friends about what was best for him to do. "We'll go up and call in their chips, Billy," was the universal decision. "No, let us find out if the claim is theirs," said Billy. "Find out nothin'; they has no right to it and 'tain't justice." So up to the mine they went, and Billy's friends recognized the two claimants of the mine as two worthless fellows who had been in the valley months before, but who had no claim upon the boy's property. "You must git!" That was the decision; but just then others came up who sided with the desperadoes and things looked very scary for awhile, for half the crowd swore that the mine had belonged to the two claimants to it and that Billy ought to give it up. But these were the men who disliked Billy and his party, as they were the honest miners, and who were willing to side with his foes. "Ef ther boy wants ther mine he will hev to fight fer it," said one. "He will fight for it and so will we!" cried one of Billy's friends. All this time Billy had remained silent; but now he saw that his friends were in deadly earnest, and to prevent a general fight and much loss of life he said: "The mine I own legally and I'll fight for it if that will settle it, but I don't want to have to fight both of you." "Oh, but you must though," said one. "If I must, I'll do it." "But you shall not, Billy. These two devils only want to murder you so they can get the mine, and they sha'n't do it."