A newsboy hurried down the street crying an extra on the inquest.  Brannan snatched one from his hand and the two men perused it eagerly.  The finding, couched in usual verbiage, recited the obvious facts that Jenkins, alias Simpson, perished by strangulation and that “an association of citizens styling themselves a Committee of Vigilance,” was responsible.

“Eight of us are implicated, besides myself,” said Brannan finally, “they’ll start proceedings probably at once.”

“And they’ll have the courts to back their dirty work,” added Coleman, thoughtfully.  “That will never do,” his teeth shut with a little click.  “I’m going to the Herald office.”

“What for?” asked Brannan, quickly.

“To publish the full list of names,” Coleman responded.  “We’re all in this together; no group must bear the brunt.”

“But,” objected Brannan, “is that wise?”

“Of course.... in union there is strength.  These crooks will hesitate to fight two hundred leading citizens; if they know them all they can’t pick out a few for persecution.”

“Well, I’ll go along,” said Brannan.  “Eh, what’s that?  What’s happened now?”

The Monumental engine bell was tolling violently.  Coleman listened.  “Its not a fire,” he declared, “it’s the Vigilante signal.  We’ll wait here.”

A man came running toward them from the bay.  “They’ve captured James Stuart,” he shouted.  “Bludgeoned a captain on his ship but the man’s wife held on to him and yelled till rescue came.”

“But Stuart’s in the Auburn jail, awaiting execution for the murder of the sheriff,” Coleman said bewildered.

“No,” cried the man, “this is the real one.  The other’s Tom Berdue, his double.”

“Then there’ll be another hanging,” Coleman muttered.

CHAPTER XXXV

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAW

Frightened, desperate, angered by the usurpation of their power, varied forces combined in opposition to the Vigilance Committee.  Political office-holders, good and bad, were naturally arrayed against it, and for the first time made a common cause.  Among the politicians were many men of brains, especially those affiliated with the “Chivalry” faction, as it was known—­Southern men whose object it was to introduce slavery into California.  These were fiery, fearless, eloquent and quick at stratagem.  There was also Broderick’s Tammany organization, an almost perfect political machine, though as yet in the formative stage.  There was the tacit union of the underworld; gamblers, thieves, plug-uglies, servitors of or parasites upon the stronger factions.  Each and all they feared and hated this new order of the Vigilantes.