“But me and my pard, Dave Dunn, got in too late ter save them poor murdered men, and when I heerd what had been done, says I, thet as Buffalo Bill will hev ter die ter-night, I’ll jist be his heir by winning his money fu’st. So I axes yer ter play me.” “And I did?” “Yaas, for sure.” “And I became your heir, as you put it.” “So far.” “Well, what else?” “A heap, for I wants ter let ther folks know thet Dave Dunn and me were up in ther range and seen you breakin’ inter ther cabin’ o’ Deadshot Dean.” A murmur went through the crowd at this, while Buffalo Bill said indifferently: “Is that all? “Why, I feel relieved, for I was afraid you were going to accuse me of cheating you.” “Oh, no, yer played square enough, for I was a-watchin’ yer; but we seen yer breakin’ inter Deadshot’s cabin, and Tom and Jerry caught yer at it. But you was too soon for them, got them under ther muzzle of yer gun, and trotted them off as house-breakers when you was the thief.” “Why did you not at once come to their rescue?” asked Buffalo Bill, when the uproar which these words created had in a measure subsided. “We was up in Eagle Nest Mountain, and it took us a long time ter git down to ther valley and up to Pocket City. Then we found thet ther folks hed believed you, Buffalo Bill, agin’ them men, and it were too late. So we talked it over, and thar is jist a large-size community here ter-night as says you has got ter hang, too.” “Why not make it by unanimous consent, Mister Pistols, for it would sound better when reported at the fort to Colonel Dunwoody?” The crowd gave vent to a murmur of admiration at the scout’s pluck. He did not appear to be in the least degree disturbed by the danger he most certainly was in. “Oh, I knows yer is game, and I has just seen thet yer kin bluff, but thet don’t go now.” “What does?” “Ropes is trumps.” “You intend to hang me, then?” “We does.” “Without judge or jury?” “We have set on your case, and it is agin’ yer.” “When am I to be hanged, please?” “Afore dawn.” “Isn’t that crowding matters a little?” “No more than you crowded it agin’ them two poor boys as was hanged to-night.” “And you saw me break into Deadshot Dean’s cabin?” “I did.” “And the other witness?” “Was Dave Dunn.” “I do not believe anybody here who has common sense will believe any such charge against me,” said the scout, while, with his elbows resting upon the table at which he sat, Pistols held his revolver, covering the heart of the scout. “Yer don’t believe it?” “No, I don’t.” “Pards, does I tell the truth?” In his excitement the miner turned his head, and in that instant his revolver was struck upward and knocked from his hands by Buffalo Bill, who now held him covered with his weapon. “A turn about is fair play, Mister Pistols.”