“Well then, what will?”

“I confess I do not yet know.  I want to talk with Thockmorton first.  He may know something.”

There was a moment’s silence, then a suspicious voice, “Who the hell are you?  How do we know you ain’t in on this yerself?”

“Listen, men,” and I fronted them, looking straight into their eyes.  “You have a right to ask that question, and I’ll tell you who I am.  I am not here in uniform, but I am an officer of the United States Army.  Captain Thockmorton will vouch for that.  I pledge you my word that this affair does not end here.  I never met any of these men until I came on board the boat at Fort Armstrong, but I have letters with me for Governor Clark of Missouri, and Governor Reynolds of Illinois.  Either man will accept my statement regarding this matter, and I promise you that either Kirby and Carver will return the papers and money before we reach St. Louis, or I’ll swear out a warrant for their arrest.  If you boys will stay with me we’ll scare it out of them for the sake of those girls.  What do you say?”

No one spoke immediately, although there was a muttering of voices, sounding antagonistic, and sprinkled with oaths.  It was, indeed, a poor time and place in which to appeal to the law, nor were these men accustomed to the pleadings of mercy.  I glanced across Beaucaire’s extended body, and caught the eyes of McAfee.  The man lifted his hand.

“The leftenant has got this thing sized up about proper,” he said gruffly.  “He’s an army officer all right, fer I saw him back thar on the island, when we wus tied up at the dock.  Now look yere, boys, I’m fer hangin’ both ov them cusses just as much as eny ov the rest ov yer—­a bit more, I reckon, fer they stripped me ov my pile; along with Beaucaire, only I was easier ter strip—­but, as the leftenant says, that ain’t the p’int now.  What we want ter do is get back them bills o’ sale, so them two young women won’t be left with nuthin’ ter live on.  Let’s make the fellers cough up furst, an’ then, if we think best, we kin hang ’em afterwards.  It’s my vote we let the leftenant tackle the job—­what do yer say?”

The rise and fall of voices, although punctuated by oaths, and indistinct in expression, seemed generally to signify assent.  The faces of the men, as they pushed and crowded about us, remained angry and resentful.  Clearly enough prompt action alone would carry the day.

“Very well then, boys,” I broke in sharply.  “You agree to leave this settlement with me.  Then I’ll go at it.  Two or three of you pick up the body, and carry it to Beaucaire’s stateroom—­forward there.  The rest of you better straighten up the cabin, while I go up and talk with Thockmorton a moment.  After that I may want a few of you to go along when I hunt up Kirby.  If he proves ugly we’ll know how to handle him.  McAfee!”

“I’m over here.”

“I was just going to say that you better stay here, and keep the fellows all quiet in the cabin.  We don’t want our plan to leak out, and it will be best to let Kirby and Carver think that everything is all right; that nothing is going to be done.”