“I t-thought y-you were dead,” Curly stammered.

“An’ so ye was takin’ the matter of justice into yer own dirty hands, eh?”

“Somebody had to do it.”

“H’m,” Samson grunted as he glanced around upon the miners.  “Queer justice, I call it.  Why didn’t ye let the Police look after the affair, if ye thought me pardner had murdered me?  No, ye can’t answer that,” he continued, for Curly made no defence.  “It’s yer own bad heart, that’s what made ye do it.  Yer jealous; that’s what’s wrong.  An’ as fer justice, you’ll git plenty of it soon, an’ more’n ye’ll care fer.  An’ you talk about a man murderin’ his pardner, an’ givin’ him justice!  Who murdered Bill Ducett, at Black Ravine, tell me that?”

Curly’s eyes, which were big with fear, now fairly burst from their sockets as the old prospector laid this startling charge.  His knees trembled, and it seemed as if he must fall to the ground, so great was his terror.

“H-how d’ye know about Bill?” he gasped.

“Never mind how I know,” Samson replied.  Then he turned toward Glen.  “Excuse me, Miss,” and he lifted his old weather-beaten hat, “I’m real sorry that you have to witness sich a scene as this.  But it can’t be helped, fer thar stands the worst criminal that ever came into this region.  An’ to think of him talkin’ about murder an’ justice, when he himself murdered his own pardner!”

“It’s a lie!” Curly denied with an oath.  “What d’ye mean by making such a charge?”

“It’s no lie, Curly,” and the prospector looked sternly into the cur’s bloodshot eyes.  “I’ve got all the proof that’s necessary to stretch yer neck.  But it’ll keep until the right ones git hold of ye.  In the meantime, we might as well go down to Shorty’s an’ git something to eat.  I’m as hungry as a two-year-old bear.  We’ll take these fellers along,” and he motioned to the miners.  “Jist let yer Injuns look after ‘em, Miss.  An’ ye’d better see that Curly is tied tight so’s he can’t git away.  We don’t want to run any risk with him.”

It took but a few minutes to carry out this latter suggestion, and then all headed for the mining creek.  The miners were marshalled by the Indians, with Samson walking watchfully by Curly’s side, while Reynolds kept close to Glen.  No one spoke, and it was a strange procession which wound its way down the creek, and at length halted in front of the roadhouse.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE OLD TRUE STORY

There was great indignation at Shorty’s when the miners heard of the villainous attempt upon Reynolds’ life.  At first they would hardly believe it, but as they listened to Frontier Samson, whose words were confirmed by Glen, and Reynolds, they knew that it must be true.  Then when they learned that Curly was guilty of the murder of his partner, Bill Ducett, they became thoroughly aroused.