He could not hold it, under the law, if some white man discovered it and located the ground, but Casey thought that some white-hearted fellow might take the claim and pay the buck a certain percentage of the profits.
The man said that couldn't be done.

The old buck--Injun Jim, they called him--was an old she-bear.

All the Indians were afraid of him and would hide their faces in their blankets when he passed them on his way to the gold, rather than be suspected by Injun Jim of any unwarranted interest in his destination.

Casey knew enough about Indians to accept that statement.
And white men, it would seem, were either not nervy enough or else they were not cunning enough.

A few had attempted to trail Injun Jim, but no one had ever succeeded, because that part of Nevada had not had any gold stampede, which the man declared would have come sure as fate if Injun Jim's mine were ever uncovered.
Casey asked certain questions and learned all that the man could tell him,--or would tell him.