"All right, then--here goes!" And once more Dick Rover's fist shot out, and again the oil well promoter measured his length on the ground. This time as he arose he put his hand behind him in his hip pocket. But before he could draw any weapon, if such was his intention, Dick Rover was on him and had his arms pinioned. "There'll be no shooting here, Davenport. You try it, and you'll get the worst of it. Now, then, you take back what you said!" and Dick Rover shoved his clenched fist under the other's nose. Carson Davenport could bluster, but at heart he was more or less of a coward. He tried to retreat, and as Jack's father followed him up he mumbled some words about there being a mistake and that he had not meant to say just what Jack's father had imagined. "Poor Lorimer Spell was shot by the Huns," said Dick Rover, for the benefit of the other men standing around. "He had gone on ahead of our party, and then, finding out his mistake, he was in the act of turning around to get back in line when the shot struck him that killed him. To say that he was shot down by any of his own crowd is a wicked falsehood. Half a dozen men of our command can prove every word of what I have said." "You'll rue the day you pitched into me, Rover," grumbled Davenport, but took good care to keep out of reach. "You brought it on yourself," retorted Jack's father. "And now, as for this claim," he added, after a slight pause. "As all of my papers have been stolen I presume I can do nothing, even though this land may be the most valuable in oil in this vicinity. But I will watch the turn of affairs, and if I get a chance to prove anything I'll do it." "You show me your papers, and if they are all right, I'll see that you get what is coming to you," mumbled Davenport. "But just the same, let me repeat--I don't believe there are any papers. The whole thing was a faked-up story to get me to give up my claim." Davenport was nursing his bruised chin. "And don't forget that you knocked me down when you had no right to do it," he added uglily. "Are you going to sink a well here?" "That's our business." "What's the use of trying to hide it, anyhow?" put in Jake Tate. "Yes, we're going to sink a well here just as soon as we can get our machinery in working order." "And we're going to do it with our own money. We're not asking any assistance from you," added Jackson. "All right, then, go ahead," said Dick Rover. "I have no more to say--at least for the present." And then, motioning to the four boys and Nick Ogilvie to follow him, he withdrew. CHAPTER XXVI NEWS OF RUTH "I guess they are pretty sure there is oil on that land," chuckled Andy, as the whole party got aboard the automobile and started back for town. "I hope they sink about a hundred thousand dollars in that ground and get nothing for their trouble," added his twin. "Gee, Dad, you certainly did soak Davenport a couple!" cried Jack admiringly.