I realize yuh may think diffrunt from me.

You've got a right to prove, if yuh can, that all this ain't mineral land.

I've got jest as much right to prove it is." He took a breath so deep it expanded visibly his chest--a broad, muscular chest it was--and let his eyes wander deliberately over his audience.
"That there's where _I_ stand," he stated, with arrogant self-assurance.
His mouth drew down at the corners in a smile which asked plainly what they were going to do about it, and intimated quite as plainly that he did not care what they did, though he might feel a certain curiosity as an onlooker.
"I happen to know--" Peaceful began, suddenly for him.

But Baumberger waved him into silence.
"You'll have to prove there's gold in paying quantities here," he stated pompously.
"That's what I aim to do," Stanley told him imperturbably.
"_I_ proved, over fifteen years ago, that there WASN'T," Peaceful drawled laconically, and sucked so hard upon his pipe that his cheeks held deep hollows.
Stanley grinned at him.

"Sorry I can't let it go at that," he said ironically.