Lank Forbes claimed the horse and accoutrements of Steve as the lawful spoil of his revolver, and the reward of his courage. A demurrer was taken to this by Milt Moody, who had done the agreeable to Dutch John, and the drivers put in a mild remonstrance on their own behalf, on the naval principle that all ships in sight share in the prize captured. They claimed that their “schooners,” were entitled to be represented by the “steersmen.” The subject afforded infinite merriment to the party at every camp. At last a Judge was elected, a jury was empannelled, and the attorneys harangued the judicial packers. The verdict was that Lank should remain seized and possessed of the property taken from the enemy, upon payment of $20 to each of the teamsters, and $30 to Milt, and thereupon the court adjourned. The travellers reached Salt Lake City in safety. CHAPTER XI. THE ROBBERY OF PEABODY & CALDWELL’S COACH. “On thy dial write, ‘Beware of thieves.’”--O. W. HOLMES. Late in the month of October, 1863, the sickness of one of the drivers making it necessary to procure a substitute, William Rumsey was engaged to take the coach to Bannack. In the stage, as passengers, were Messrs. Mattison, Percival and Wilkinson. After crossing the hills in the neighborhood of Virginia City, it began to snow furiously, and the storm continued without abatement, till they arrived within two miles of John Baker’s Ranch, on Stinkingwater, a stream which owes its euphonious appellation to the fact that the mountaineers who named it found on its banks the putrifying corpses of Indians, suspended horizontally according to their usual custom, from a frame work of poles. The corral at the station was found to be empty, and men were despatched to hunt up the stock. The herdsmen came back at last with only a portion of Peabody & Caldwell’s horses, the remainder belonging to A. J. Oliver & Co. This detained them two hours, and finding that they could do no better, they hitched up the leaders, that had come in with the coach, and putting on two of Oliver’s stock for wheelers, they drove through to Bob Dempsey’s on a run, in order to make up for lost time. At this place they took on board another passenger, Dan McFadden, more familiarly known as “Bummer Dan.” The speed was maintained all the way to Point of Rocks, then called Copeland’s Ranch. There they again changed horses, and being still behind time, they went at the gallop to Bill Bunton’s Ranch, on Rattlesnake, at which place they arrived about sunset.