inquisitive tourists are buried in these parts."

"I'll look it up some day," Tom promised, good-humoredly.

"You'll look it up before dark if we have time to pack you there,"
growled the leader of the men. "Now, are you going to stand aside?"

Tom shook his head.

"Let's shake hands all around and then sit down for a nice little
talk," the young engineer suggested.

"There's been too much talk already," snarled Tom's antagonist.

The men of the automobile party were silent. They had scented
in Tom an ally who would help their cause materially.

"Then you won't be sociable?" Reade demanded, as if half offended.

"Git out and go about your business," ordered the leader of the
four men.

"It's always my business when women and children appear to be in
danger," returned Tom. He turned on his heel, presenting his
broad back as a target to the rifles as he stepped over to automobile
party.

Oddly the four men, though they had the look of being desperate, did
not offer to shoot.