"To be course I do, Gabe, and I am mighty glad to see you alive and well. You once had the name of being the strongest man in Nevada; but you didn't look very strong when we brought you up here, two year ago. You'll be up to the old tricks again, before long." The giant shook his head. "I reckon not," he said. "Liftin' bolders an' wrastlin' with four men at a time is outer my line ferever, arter this. I'm too lazy, an' besides thet, I'll allow it wuz a strain I got at that business as brought on my first bleedin' spell arter I hed ther grip. I'm purty well, now, but I don't make no exerbitions uv my strength, burn me ef I do!" "Wait till you get away from here. Everybody that comes here gets lazy, and stays lazy as longs as they stay here." At this Big Gabe nodded. "Thet's sure as preachin'. It's ther derndest place ter make a critter feel ez if he don't keer a hoot whether school keeps ur not!" The sheriff had half drawn his revolvers. He now thrust one of them back into its holster, but motioned for Blake to stand aside. "I judge you don't know the kind of youngsters these are as I have found here," said Long. "And I judge I do," returned the big man, quietly. "I know all about 'em, an' they're all right." The officer looked surprised. "How does it happen you know about 'em?" he asked, wonderingly. "They're old acquaintances uv mine," asserted Gabe, greatly to the surprise of the lads; "an' they're on the dead level. They came hyar to see me, sayin' as how they wuz in some trouble down at Carson over some counterfeit money as they hed got by accident." Long was scowling and looking disgusted. He listened in silence, motioning for the giant to go on. "I hev listened ter their story," said Blake, "an' knowin' 'em ez I do, I'll allow it's straight, an' you ain't got no cause whatever ter rope 'em, Jack." "Mebbe you're right," admitted the sheriff, fishing in a pocket and drawing forth a paper; "but here is a warrant for the arrest of one Frank Merriwell, and I must serve it. It is sworn out by Ezra Coburn, a leading citizen of Carson." "Burn Ezra Coburn!" roared Big Gabe, becoming somewhat excited. "Burn him and double burn him! I tell yer them youngsters is my friends, an' I'm standin' by 'em! You an' I don't want any trouble, Jack." "No, we don't want any trouble; but, at the same time, I'll have to do my duty," came firmly from the lips of the sheriff. "By thet yer mean yer'll hev ter arrest Frank Merriwell?" "Exactly." "Stiddy, Jack! Don't be too quick ter lay yer paws on ther boys. You know me." "I do, and I do not fancy having trouble with you. At the same time I must do my duty." "Wa-al, hold hard a bit. Don't be in a hurry about nabbin' them. I'll give yer my pledge as how yer kin hev 'em any time. Does thet go?" The sheriff hesitated a bit, and then said: "It goes, if you are responsible for 'em, Gabe."