“Tell us where them em’rulds aire!” he ordered. “And do it mighty quick, er you’ll do no more talkin’ in this world.” There was such menace in his words and tone that Bruce hesitated. “I’ll tell you,” he said, “if you’ll let me go.” “Boyees, you hear him?” said Toby Sam. “After ther boss comes, we’ll let him go, if he tells the truth,” said one of the men. “Yes, after the boss comes!” others shouted. “Say, you fellows,” said the young man coolly, “couldn’t you just whisk those masks aside, so that I can see your faces? I always like to know who I’m talking with. Strikes me this is a one-sided affair; you know me, but hanged if I do you.” “But you’d like to?” “Well, yes; I’d like to.” “Tell us where them emeralds aire!” yelled Toby Sam. “Then you’ll let me go free.” “We will, when the boss comes, if you speak honest. Them emeralds aire the things we’re after.” “That’s your solemn promise?” “Yes. Now, where aire they?” Toby Sam still held his revolver cocked. “Those emeralds are in the possession of Miss Forest. I can tell you that now, for she is on the stage, and the stage has got such a start of you that you couldn’t overtake it, no matter how hard you might try. She has got them; and they’re safe.” A roar of surprise and anger arose. “But, see here,” said Toby Sam argumentatively, “I was under her house when she and Buffler Bill war talkin’ of how they war goin’ to send them emeralds on; and I heard her say that she would give ’em to you to carry, ’cause then they’d be safer, fer no one would be expectin’ you to have ’em. What about that? Ain’t that right?” “I don’t doubt you were sneak enough to crawl under the house and listen in that way, since you admit it.” “But ain’t that right? Didn’t she say that?” “I think she did; but she is a woman, and a woman has an everlasting right to change her mind whenever she wants to. She changed her mind.” “And she carried ’em, instead of you?” “That’s right; she carried them.” “Why was you along, then?” Toby Sam howled. “Answer me that!” “As her escort. I meant to go East with her.” “What for, if not to carry the emeralds?” The young man’s face flushed. “I intended to marry her when we reached the East,” he admitted. When some further sharp questions and threats did not change the prisoner’s story, Toby Sam and some of his men drew aside and discussed the matter. “Better wait fer the comin’ of the boss.” “But if we wait, then the chance of hittin’ the stage may be lost,” was the answer to this advice. After they had talked a while they came back to Clayton.