her?" asked several.

"What! didn't ye hear?"

"Hear what?"

"'Bout the chap that caught her on the trail last night, an' scart her
so that she fainted dead away."

At this, several men who were sitting on benches sprang to their feet,
and angry oaths rang through the room.

"Who was it?" they demanded. "Tell us more about it! We're bad men,
God knows, but we've a little manhood left. Tell us his name!"

"Don't git excited, now," replied Pete. "Jist keep cool, an' don't do
nothin' rash, or ye may be sorry fer it."

Then in his quaint way he told the story of his trip from Siwash Creek,
the cry in the night, the attack of the dog, escape of the villain, and
the finding Constance lying unconscious on the trail. Pete related his
story well, while many a muttered oath burst from the men during the
recital.

"Do you know his name?" came the cry.

"Yes."

"Is he here?"

"I don't know. Mebbe ye kin tell when ye hear, fer it's Bill Pritchen."

When Pete entered the saloon, Pritchen was sitting at a small table
dealing a pack of cards. Looking suddenly up, and noticing the
prospector, his face became pale, and his hand shook. He made up his
mind to leave the room at the first opportunity and not run the risk of
meeting the old man. Anyway, his back was to the bar, so he would not
be recognized. As Pete talked on he felt somewhat relieved. But when
the story of darkness began to be unrolled a great fear seized his
cowardly heart. He did not dare to leave the place, for if his name
were mentioned he must be on hand to defend himself before the miners
became too much excited. During the recital a burning rage possessed
him, and he longed to drop the prospector in his tracks. He saw the
trap which he had laid for another about to close upon himself with a
deadly grip, and all owing to this one old man. When, however, Pete
mentioned his name, he leaped to his feet with a terrible oath.

"You lie!" he shouted. "It's an infernal lie, I tell you, and you'll
answer for this!"

Pete swung suddenly around, and looked full upon the irate man before
him.

"So yer the gintleman, are ye? I'm rale glad to make yer acquaintance.
Mebbe ye kin explain matters, an' unravel this tangle a bit."

"There's nothing to explain, d-- you! I was out walking last night and
met Miss Radhurst on the trail. Just as I was about to pass her a
brute of a dog fell suddenly upon me, and tore my clothes, while the
young woman