ble idea of your country."

"I only want you to judge it correctly, captain. Why, there aint no more
danger of being scalped in New York than in London."

"I presume not, _in_ New York, but I am speaking of the neighborhood of
New York."

"So am I. I'll tell you what, captain, if you can find me a case of a
man that's been scalped within five hundred miles of New York within the
last fifty years, I'll give you my share of the reward. Of course if
it's in Canada, it don't count."

"I can't accept any such wager. I have no means of proving it, even if
it is so."

"That's true, squire; but I'll give you an idea. Harry, how many Indians
have you ever seen in your life?"

"About half a dozen," answered Harry, after a pause for reflection.

"And you, Jack?"

"I never saw one that I can remember."

"And yet you were both born in the States. You see, captain, Indians are
not so abundant in our country as you supposed. Jack has never seen an
Indian, but he has seen a bushranger; eh, Jack?"

"I have seen more than I wanted to," answered Jack, smiling.

By this time they had descended the hill, and were on the borders of the
mining settlement. They had now attracted the attention of the miners,
and when the prisoner was recognized there went up an angry shout, and a
band of swarthy, bearded men advanced menacingly to meet them.

"Give him to us!" they cried. "Give up the murderer! We will make short
work of him!"

CHAPTER XXI.

BUYING A CLAIM.

The face of the prisoner, as he met the angry glances of the miners,
betrayed extreme fear. In spite of his terrible crime, Harry could not
help pitying him when he saw the gray pallor that overspread his
countenance.

The captain of the police was a brave and determined man, and though his
little force was outnumbered five to one he showed no signs of
yielding.

"What is it you want, men?" he demanded sternly.

"We want that man--the murderer," was the unanimous cry.

"What would you do with him?"

"String him up to the nearest tree," replied a brawny miner.

"There is no occasion for you to punish him--he is in the hands of the
law," replied the captain.

"He may escape. We want to make sure of him."

"I will answer for it that he does not escape. You know me, and you can
accept my assurance. Is that satisfactory?"

There was a sullen murmur among the miners. It was evident that they
were not wholly satisfied.

The captain of police watched them kee