re right, and whether
this is Murrican or Canady land, we all back you up."

There was a deafening shout at this, and as soon as silence came again
the dark man said firmly, "Now, gentlemen, to settle the business on
hand. We're not going to make the Yukon gold region a close borough."

"That's right, jedge," said an American.

"Every honest man is welcome here, but we want it known that for the
rowdy thief and law-breaker there will be a short shrift and the rope."

There was another roar, and as it subsided the man with the red beard
shouted, "That's right, pardners, right as right; and what me and my
mates here want is justice and protection from them as robbed us, and
tried to shoot us down. There they are, three o' the gang, and you've
got 'em fast. Now what do you say?"

The two young men stood rigid and silent, expectant of the fateful words
which might bring their careers to a close. They knew that wild appeals
for mercy and loud protestation would be of no avail, but would be
looked upon as arrant cowardice; and as the moments went on, heavy and
leaden winged, a strange feeling of rebellion against the cruelty of
fate raised a sense of anger, and stubborn determination began to grow.

It was too horrible to dwell upon, this prospect of the most ignominious
death: an adverse judgment based on the vote of a crowd of rugged,
determined men fighting for their own safety and the protection of the
gold they were dragging from where it had lain since the creation of the
world; but still it seemed to be their fate, and in both the growing
feeling was the same--a sense of rage and hatred against the remorseless
scoundrels who, to make their own position safe in the gold region, were
ready to sacrifice the lives of their victims.

"If we could only be face to face with them alone," they felt, "with the
chance to fight against them for our lives! The cowards! The dogs!"

Their musings were brought to an end by the voice of the head man of the
trio, who broke in upon the whispering together of the judge and several
of the men who had closed round him. "Well, pardners," he cried;
"what's it to be after all you've said? Are we to have fair play, or
are we to go where we can get it?"

"Wait a bit, sir, and you and your friends shall have fair play; never
fear."

"Don't be in a hurry," shouted one of the Americans at the back. "Jedge
don't want to hang the wrong men."

"No, sir," said the dark gold-seeker