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Ki Sing, however, still faithful to the man who had befriended him in the hour of danger, did not direct his course toward Richard Dewey's cabin, but guided the two adventurers in a different direction. The course he took was a circuitous one, taking him no farther away from the cabin, but encircling the summit and dra...
"How did you happen to get so far away from it, then, I should like to know?" and he examined the face of his guide sharply. But Ki Sing's broad face seemed utterly void of expression as, neglecting to answer the question, he reiterated his statement, "Housee long way." "The man's a fool, Tom," said Mosely, turning to ...
"Do you know what I mean to do, Hadley?--Here, you yellow mummy, go a little ahead." (The Chinaman did so.)--"There's a bonanza up there in that cabin, wherever it is. The Chinaman says that this man with the queer name had got out a good deal of gold before he met with an accident--broke his leg, likely. Well, it stan...
"Why, we'll knock him on the head or put a bullet in him, Hadley. It's a pity if two fire-eaters like us can't tackle a man with a broken leg. What do you say?" "I should say so." Fifteen minutes more passed, and they seemed to be getting no nearer their destination. At any rate, no cabin was in sight. Ki Sing only ans...
"I should say so." "Then I'll attend to his case.--Here, you heathen!" "Whatee want?" Bill Mosely sprang from his mustang, seized Ki Sing, and, in spite of howls, with Hadley's assistance tied him to a small tree with a strong cord he had in his pocket.
"That disposes of you, my friend," he said, mounting his mustang. "I think we shall find the cabin better without you." The two men rode off, leaving poor Ki Sing in what appeared, considering the loneliness of the spot, to be hopeless captivity. CHAPTER V. FURTHER ADVENTURES OF BILL MOSELY.
Bill Mosley and his companion pushed on after leaving the poor Chinaman tied to the tree. "The yellow heathen may starve, for all I care," said Mosely, carelessly. "It's all his own fault. Why didn't he speak up like a man and tell me what I wanted to know?" "I should say so," chimed in Tom Hadley. "The question is now...
Hadley appeared to have no idea, and no suggestion to offer. "It strikes me it must be somewhere near the top of the mountain," said Mosely. "What do you say?" "I should say so." "Then we'll take the shortest way to the summit. I tell you, Tom, we're on the track of something rich. We'll take all this fellow's gold-dus...
"I should say so, Bill," answered Hadley, with an expression of interest. "I tell you, Tom," said Bill Mosely, complacently, "you were in luck when you fell in with me. We've done pretty well since we j'ined hosses, pard." "I should say so--but," added Hadley, after a pause, "it would go hard with us if we got caught."...
This inquiry was made some twenty minutes after they had left Ki Sing. They had pursued a circuitous course, or in half the time they might have been as near the cabin as they now were. Tom Hadley didn't answer in his customary phrase, but instead raised himself erect on his mustang and looked sharply about him. "Well?...
"Where?" asked his companion in an eager tone. "There," said Tom Hadley, pointing with his whip in a particular direction. Mosely strained his eyes, but he was a trifle near-sighted and could see nothing. "I can't see anything," he said, "but that proves nothing. If there's smoke, there's a house. There's no question a...
"Will it be safe?" queried Hadley. "Safe enough. The Chinaman is disposed of, and as for this broken-legged Dewey, we'll bind him fast and set him outside of the cabin while we make ourselves comfortable within. I shall be sorry to inconvenience him, but when a man has company he must expect to be put out--eh, Tom?" "I...
"There it is, Tom!" cried Mosely, joyfully. "We've found it, in spite of that lying heathen. It seems good to see a house after wandering about for weeks without a chance to sleep under a roof--eh, Tom?" "I should say so, Bill." It will be observed that Mr. William Mosely was fond of designating Ki Sing as a heathen, e...
"Take it easy, Tom. The whole thing's in our hands. Wonder whether Dewey's expectin' visitors?" he added, chuckling. "I say, Hadley, he'll be glad to see us--don't you think so?" "I should say so," returned Hadley, before the joke dawned upon him. "You see, we are going to relieve him of the care of that gold-dust of h...
Mosely shrugged his shoulders. He did not quite like this new disposition of Hadley's to look after his own interests, but at present did not think it politic to say much about it. Though Tom Hadley had generally been subservient to him, he knew very well that if any difficulty should arise between them Tom would be a ...
Bill Mosely could not tell from the way he lay on the pallet, covered with a blanket, whether his leg were broken or not, but believed that this was the case. "That doesn't happen to be my name, stranger," he answered. Richard Dewey turned suddenly on his low bed and fixed his eyes on the intruder. "Who are you? what d...
"Well, I'm not the President of the United States, nor I ain't Queen Victoria, as I know of," said Mosely. "You look more like a horse-thief," said Richard Dewey, bluntly. "Do you mean to insult me?" exclaimed Bill Mosely, fiercely. "Do you know who I am?" Dewey was not easily frightened, and he answered coolly, "You h...
"Well, I'm Bill Mosely from the State of Missouri. I'm a regular tearer, I am. I don't take no back talk. When a man insults me I kill him." "Very well. Now I know who you are," said Richard Dewey, calmly. "Now, what do you want?" "How much gold-dust have you in this cabin? We may as well come to business." "None at al...
"I know better. You can't pull wool over my eyes. Your Chinaman tells a different story." "Ha! Have you seen Ki Sing?" asked Dewey, interested at last. "Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting the heathen you refer to." "Where is he now? Can you tell me?"
"To the best of my knowledge he is tied to a tree a mile or so from here. I don't think he will get away very easily." "Scoundrel! you shall answer for this!" exclaimed Richard Dewey, springing to his feet, and thereby showing that neither of his legs was broken. CHAPTER VI. AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.
Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner. He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm. Richard Dewey paused and confronted him. A frown was on h...
This was not altogether satisfactory to Bill Mosely, though it expressed confidence in the truth of his statement. "You haven't answered my question," continued Dewey. "What have you done with my servant?" "Perhaps he wasn't your servant," said Bill Mosely, evasively. "There is but one Chinaman in this neighborhood," s...
"He was impudent to me," answered Bill Mosely, uneasily. "Ki Sing is never impudent to any one," returned Dewey, his eyes flashing with anger. "Tell me what you did with him, or I will fell you to the ground." "I didn't harm him," said Bill Mosely, hastily. "I wanted to teach him a lesson; that is all." "And so you tie...
"Yes." "Then go back and release him instantly, or it will be the worse for you. I would go with you, to make sure that you did so, but my ankle is weak. Where did you leave him?" "A little way down the hill." "Then go at once and release him. If you fail to do it, some day I shall meet you again and I will make you bi...
"All right, stranger; make your mind easy." Bill Mosely turned to leave the cabin, and Richard Dewey threw himself down on the pallet once more. But Mosely had no intention of letting the matter rest there. Had he been alone he would not have ventured on any further conflict with Dewey, who, invalid as he was, had show...
Richard Dewey had laid himself down on the pallet, thinking that Bill Mosely had gone about his business, when Tom Hadley, who had been assigned to this duty by his more timid companion, threw himself upon the invalid and overpowered him. "Perhaps you'll insult a gentleman again," exclaimed Mosely tauntingly as he stoo...
"I have sprained my ankle or I would defy both of you." "Talk's cheap!" retorted Bill Mosely. "What is your object in this outrageous assault upon a stranger?" demanded Dewey. "We'll tell you presently," answered Mosely.--"Now tie his feet, Tom."
"Be careful of my ankle--it is sore and sensitive," said Dewey, addressing himself to Tom Hadley. "You need not tie me further. In my present condition I am no match for you both. Tell me why it is you have chosen to attack a man who has never harmed you?" Tom Hadley looked to Mosely to answer. "I'll tell you what we w...
"Your servant. He let it out without thinking, but when we wanted him to guide us here, he wouldn't. That's why we left him tied to a tree--isn't it, Tom?" "I should say so." "Poor fellow! I am glad to hear he was faithful even when he found himself in the power of two such ruffians as you." "Look here, Dewey: don't gi...
"I should say so, Bill." "I intend to express my opinion of you and your villainous conduct," said Dewey, undaunted, "whatever you choose to call it. So Ki Sing wouldn't guide you here?" "No, he led us round in a circle. When we found it out we settled his hash pretty quick--" "Like cowards, as you were."
"Are we going to stand this, Tom?" asked Bill, fiercely. Tom Hadley shrugged his shoulder. He did not enjoy what Bill Mosely called "back talk" as well as his partner, and it struck him as so much waste of time. He wanted to come to business, and said briefly, "Where's the gold?" "Yes, Dewey, let us know what you have ...
"I should say so," interjected Tom Hadley. "You're a fool," ejaculated Bill Mosely, frowning. "What makes you give yourself away?" "Because," said Hadley, bluntly, "we are thieves, or we wouldn't be after this man's gold." "That ain't the way to put it," said Bill Mosely, who shrank from accepting the title to which hi...
"You are very kind," said Dewey, who, embarrassing as his position was, rather enjoyed the humor of the situation. "So you are a banker, and your friend a thief? I believe I have more respect for the thief, who openly avows his objects.--Tom, if that is your name, I am sorry that you are not in a better business. That ...
"What shall we do, Tom?" asked Mosely. "Hunt for the gold," suggested Tom Hadley. If Mosely had judged it of any use to threaten Dewey, he would have done so, hoping to force him to reveal the hiding-place of the gold; but the undaunted spirit thus far displayed by his victim convinced him that the attempt would be uns...
"If only Ben and Bradley would come back," he said to himself, "I should soon be free of these rascals. They won't find the gold where they are looking, but I needn't tell them that." CHAPTER VII. TIED TO A TREE. When Ben and his friend Bradley left the cabin in search of Ki Sing, they were puzzled to fix upon the dire...
"Shall we separate, Jake, or shall we go together?" asked Ben. "I think we had better stick together, Ben. Otherwise, if one succeeds he won't have any way of letting the other know." "That's true." "Besides, we may need each other's help," added Bradley.
"You mean in case Ki Sing has met with an accident?" "Well, no; I don't exactly mean that, Ben." "Perhaps," said Ben, laughing, "you think two pairs of eyes better than one." "That's true, Ben; but you haven't caught my idea."
"Then, suppose you catch it for me and give me the benefit of it." "I think," said Bradley, not smiling at this sally of Ben's, "that our Chinese friend has fallen in with some rough fellows who have done him harm." "I hope not," said Ben, sobered by this suggestion. "So do I. Ki Sing is a good fellow, if he is a heath...
"There are not many travellers among these mountains." "No, but there are some. Some men are always pulling up stakes and looking for better claims. Besides, we are here, and why shouldn't others come here as well?" "That is so." "I think, Ben, we'll keep along in this direction," said Bradley, indicating a path on the...
"All right, Jake; I will be guided by you. I hope you're mistaken about Ki Sing's fate. Why couldn't he have fallen and sprained his ankle, like Mr. Dewey?" "Of course he could, but it isn't likely he has." "Why not?" "Because Chinamen, I have always noticed, are cautious and supple. They are some like cats; they fall ...
"Of course he wouldn't leave us without notice," said Ben, musingly. "Certainly not: that isn't Ki Sing's way. He's faithful to Dick Dewey, and won't leave him as long as Dick is laid up. I never had much idea of Chinamen before, and I don't know as I have now, but Ki Sing is a good fellow, whatever you may say of his ...
"I owe him a debt too," said Ben. "His running off with my mustang cost me a good many weary hours. But hark! what's that?" said Ben, suddenly. "What's what?" "I thought I heard a cry." "Where away?"
"To the left." Jake Bradley halted and inclined his ear to listen. "Ben," said he, looking up, "I believe we're on the scent. That cry came either from a Chinaman or a cat." Ben couldn't help laughing, in spite of the apprehensions which the words of his companion suggested. "Let us push on, then," he said.
Three minutes later the two came in sight of poor Ki Sing, chafing in his forced captivity and making ineffectual attempts to release himself from his confinement. "That's he, sure enough," exclaimed Jake Bradley, excited. "The poor fellow's regularly treed." The Chinaman had not yet seen the approach of his friends, f...
An expression of relief and joy overspread the countenance of the unfortunate captive when he saw our hero and Bradley. "How came you here, Ki Sing?" asked Bradley. "Did you tie yourself to the tree?" "No, no," replied the Chinaman, earnestly. "Velly bad men tie Ki Sing." "How many of them bad men were there?" queried ...
"Two." "That's one apiece for us, Ben," said Bradley. "There a job ahead for us." At the same time he busied himself in cutting the cord that confined the poor Chinaman to the tree, and Ki Sing, with an expression of great relief and contentment, stretched his limbs and chafed his wrists and ankles, which were sore fro...
The Chinaman, in the best English he had at command, described the two men who had perpetrated the outrage. "Did you hear either of them call the other by name?" inquired Bradley. "One Billee; the other Tommee," answered Ki Sing, who remembered the way in which they addressed each other. "Why, those are the names of th...
"That's so!" exclaimed Bradley, in excitement. "It would be just like them scamps to tie up a poor fellow like Ki Sing.--I say, Ki, did them fellows have horses?" "Yes," answered the Chinaman. "I believe they're the very fellows," cried Bradley. "I hope they are, for there's a chance of overhauling them.--Why did they ...
"That's the sort of fellow Ki Sing is," said Bradley, nodding to Ben; "you see, he wouldn't betray his master." "So they tie me to tlee," continued the poor fellow. "I thought I stay here all night." "You didn't take us into the account, Ki Sing. When these scoundrels left you where did they go?" Ki Sing pointed.
"And you think they went in search of the cabin?" "Yes--they say so." "Did they know we were there--Ben and I?" "No; me only say Dickee Dewey."
"Did you say that Dewey was sick?" "Yes." "It is clear," said Bradley, turning to Ben, "that them rascals were bent on mischief. From what Ki Sing told them they concluded that Dewey would be unable to resist them, and that they would have a soft thing stealing his gold-dust." "They may have found the cabin and be at w...
"So they may," answered Bradley, hastily. "What a fool I am to be chattering here when Dick may be in danger!--Stir your stumps, Ki Sing. We're goin' back to the cabin as fast as our legs can carry us. I only hope we'll be in time to catch the scoundrels." Not without anxiety the three friends retraced their steps towa...
When the three friends came in view of the cabin, the first sight which attracted their attention was the two mustangs, who stood, in patient enjoyment of the rest they so much needed, just outside. Their unlawful owners, as we know, were engaged inside in searching for gold-dust, without the slightest apprehension or ...
"I shall be glad to have it again," said Ben, "but we may have a tussle for them." "I'm ready," said Jake Bradley, grimly. By this time they had come to a halt to consider the situation. "I don't hear anything," said Bradley, listening intently. "I expect the skunks must be inside. Pray Heaven they haven't harmed poor ...
Just then Dewey's voice was heard, and they were so near that they could distinguish his words. "Well, gentlemen," he said, "how are you getting on? Have you found anything yet?" "No, curse it!" responded Mosely. "Suppose you give us a hint." "Thank you, but I don't see how that's going to benefit me. If you find the m...
"I should say so," answered Tom Hadley, frankly. Richard Dewey smiled. "I commend your frankness," he said. "Well, you can't expect a man to assist in robbing himself, can you?" "You're mighty cool," growled Bill Mosely. "On the contrary, my indignation is very warm, I assure you."
"Look here, Dewey," said Mosely, pausing: "I'm goin' to make you a proposition." "Go on." "Of course we shall find this gold-dust of yours, but it's rather hard and troublesome work; so I'll tell you what we'll do. If you'll tell us where to find it, we'll leave a third of it for you. That'll be square, won't it? One p...
"You can trust to the honor of a gentleman," laid Mr. William Mosely, pompously. "Meaning you?" asked Dewey, with a laugh. "Meaning me, of course, and when perhaps for myself, perhaps for my pard also--eh, Tom?" "I should say so, Bill."
"I've heard there's honor among thieves," said Dewey, smiling, "and this appears to be an illustration of it. Well, gentlemen, I'm sorry to say I don't feel that confidence in your honor or your word which would justify me in accepting your kind proposal." "Do you doubt my word?" blustered Mosely. "I feel no doubt on t...
"I don't doubt your word in the least," said Dewey. "It gives me pleasure to assent cordially to the description you give of yourselves." Tom Hadley, who was rather obtuse, took this as a compliment, but Mosely was not altogether clear whether Dewey was not chaffing them. "That sounds all right," said he, suspiciously,...
"I am sorry to disoblige you, but I really couldn't." "Do you hear that, Ben?" said Jake Bradley, his mouth distended with a grin. "Dick's chaffin' them scoundrels, and they can't see it. It looks as if they was huntin' for the gold-dust. They haven't found anything yet, and they haven't hurt Dick, or he wouldn't talk ...
As Mosely looked up he saw the Chinaman's face looking like a full moon, and for an instant he was stupefied. He could not conceive how his victim could have escaped from his captivity. "Tom," he ejaculated, pointing to the doorway, "look there!" "I should say so!" ejaculated Tom Hadley, no less surprised than his frie...
"Me walk up hill," answered Ki Sing, with a bland smile. "How did you get away from the tree? That's what I mean, you stupid." "Fliend come along--cut stling," answered the Chinaman, pronouncing his words in Mongolian fashion. Bill Mosely was startled. So Ki Sing had a friend. Was the friend with him? "Where is your fr...
"That my fliend," said the crafty Ki Sing, pointing to his master on the pallet in the corner. "Yes, Ki Sing," said Dewey, "we are friends and will remain so, my good fellow." Though he did not quite understand why Ben and Jake Bradley did not present themselves, he felt sure that they were close at hand, and that his ...
Ki Sing shook his head placidly. "I am going to tie you hand and foot and roll you down hill. You'd better have stayed where you were." "No want loll down hillee," said the Chinaman, without, however, betraying any fear. "I sha'n't ask whether you like it or not. But stop! Perhaps you can help us. Do you know where the...
"Yes," answered Ki Sing. Bill Mosely's face lighted up with pleasure. He thought he saw the way out of his difficulty. "That's the very thing!" he cried, turning to his partner--"eh, Tom?" "I should say so, Bill."
"Just show us where it is, and we won't do you any harm." "If my fliend, Dickee Dewee, tell me to, I will," said Ki Sing. Dewey, thus appealed to, said, "No, Ki Sing; they only want to rob me, and I am not willing to have you show them." "You'd better shut up, Dewey," said Mosely, insolently; "you're a dead duck, and y...
"I am ready to excuse you any time," said Dewey. "Don't stay on my account, I beg. In fact, the sooner you leave the better it will please me." Bill Mosely, who didn't fancy Dewey's sarcasm, frowned fiercely and turned again to Ki Sing. "Will you show us or not?" he demanded. "Velly solly," said Ki Sing, with a childis...
"You'd better begin with me, Bill Mosely," he said. CHAPTER IX. BRADLEY'S SIGNAL VICTORY. Bill Mosely started back as if he had seen a rattlesnake, and stared at Jake Bradley in mingled surprise and dismay.
"You didn't expect to see me, I reckon?" said Bradley, dryly. Mosely still stared at him, uncertain what to say or what to do. "I take it very kind of you to bring back the hosses you borrowed a few weeks since. You took 'em rather sudden, without askin' leave; it was a kind of oversight on your part." "I don't know wh...
"You know what I mean well enough, Bill Mosely. If you don't, them mustangs outside may refresh your recollection. They look kinder fagged out. You've worked 'em too hard, Mosely." "Those mustangs are ours. We bought 'em," said Mosely, boldly.--"Didn't we, Tom?" "I should say so," remarked Hadley, with striking origina...
"Are we goin' to stand that, Tom?" blustered Mosely, whose courage was beginning to revive, as he had thus far only seen Bradley, and considered that the odds were two to one in his favor. Of course the Chinaman counted for nothing. Tom Hadley looked a little doubtful, for he could see that the enemy, though apparently...
"Jake," said he, "these fellows have tied me hand and foot. They couldn't have done it if I had not been partially disabled. Send in Ki Sing to cut the cords." "They dared to tie you?" said Bradley, sternly.--"Mosely, what was that for?" "To remove one obstacle in the way of plunder," Dewey answered for them. "They're ...
"I am not a slave to be ordered round," returned Mosely, haughtily. "What are you, then?" "A gentleman." "Then you'll be a dead gentleman in less than a minute if you don't do as I tell you."
As he spoke he drew out his revolver and levelled it at Mosely. The latter turned pale. "Don't handle that we'pon so careless, stranger," he said. "It might go off." "So it might--as like as not," answered Bradley, calmly. "Put it up," said Mosely, nervously.--"Tom, just cut them cords."
"Tom, you needn't do it.--Mosely, you're the man for that duty. Do you hear?" Bill Mosely hesitated. He didn't like to yield and be humiliated before the man over whom he had retained so long an ascendency. "You'd better be quick about it," said Bradley, warningly. "This here we'pon goes off terrible easily. I don't wa...
"There! are you satisfied?" asked Mosely, sullenly. "It'll do as far as it goes, Mosely," said Bradley. "I wouldn't advise you to try any more of them tricks." He lowered his weapon, and was about to replace it, when Mosely, who had made a secret sign to his companion, sprang forward simultaneously with Tom Hadley and ...
Richard Dewey saw his friend's danger, but, unhappily, he had no weapon at hand. But help was not long in coming. Concealed by the walls of the cabin, Ben had heard all that had been said, and observed the attack upon his comrade. He did not hesitate a moment, but sprang forward and showed himself at Bradley's side.
"Let him go, or I'll shoot," he exclaimed in a tone of command, pointing at Mosely the twin brother of the revolver which Bradley owned. "Confusion!" ejaculated Mosely, in fresh dismay. "Let go," repeated Ben, firmly. Bill Mosely released Bradley, and the latter threw off the grasp of Tom Hadley.
"Now," said he, as standing side by side with Ben he confronted the two thieves, "shall we shoot?" "No, no," said Mosely, nervously. "Serve you right if we did. So you thought you'd got me, did you? You didn't know about Ben, there. He ain't half your size, but he's got twice the courage.--Ben, what shall we do with th...
"Serve them as they served Ki Sing," suggested Ben. "That's a good idea, that is!--Here, you two rascals, trot out here." Following directions, the two men emerged from the cabin and stood on one side of the doorway, feeling that they would gladly be in some other part of California at that precise moment. "Mosely, do ...
"Yes." "Go to it." Bill Mosely slowly and unwillingly proceeded to do as he was told. "Ki Sing," said Jake Bradley to the Chinaman, who was standing near at hand, his face wearing a bland and contented smile, "have you any cord in your pocket?"
"Yes," answered the Celestial. "Tie that man to the tree." Ki Sing approached to follow instructions, when Bill Mosely shouted, "I'll brain you, you yaller heathen, if you dare to touch me!" "Just as you say, squire," said Bradley, nonchalantly raising his revolver; "if you'd prefer to be shot I'm a very accommodatin' ...
"Stop! stop!" cried Mosely, in dismay. "He can tie me." "You've changed your mind. I thought you would," said Bradley.--"Ki Sing, go ahead." With native dexterity, and not without a feeling of satisfaction easily understood under the circumstances, Ki Sing proceeded to tie his former captor, but present captive, to a s...
"Velly stlong," answered the Chinaman, with a satisfied look. "That's good.--Now, Tom, it's your turn. There's your tree! Annex yourself to it." Tom Hadley saw the futility of resistance, and quietly allowed himself to be confined in the same manner as his companion. When both were thus disposed of Jake Bradley turned ...
"Now, Ki Sing, let us have some supper as soon as possible. We've been doin' considerable business, Ben and I, and we're as hungry as bears.--Good-night, Mosely. Hope you'll have a good night's rest!" "You are not going to leave us here all night, are you?" said Bill Mosely, uneasily. "That's just what I'm goin' to do....
"I should say so!" echoed Tom Hadley from the other tree. CHAPTER X. "THE BEST OF FRIENDS MUST PART." Mosely and his companion continued in captivity through the night. Some of my readers may consider the punishment a severe one, and it must be admitted that it was attended with no small share of discomfort. But for th...
But neither Bradley nor Ben was willing to go to such extremes. Jake Bradley had had rough experiences, and he was no soft-hearted sentimentalist, but he had a natural repugnance to taking the life of his fellow-creatures. "Money," he said on one occasion to Ben, "ain't to be measured ag'in a man's life. I don't say I ...
"Well, my friends," said Bradley, "I hope you've passed a pleasant night." "I'm almost dead," growled Bill Mosely. "I feel as if I'd been here a week." "Do you feel the same way?" inquired Bradley, addressing Tom Hadley. "I should say so," answered Hadley, in a voice of intense disgust.
"It was your own choice, Mosely," said Jake Bradley. "It was either all night braced up against a tree, or to be shot at once and put out of your misery." "Who wants to be shot?" returned Mosely. "That would be worse than stayin' here all night. You might have let us go last night." "So I might, but I wanted to teach y...
"Yes, I think I will--on one condition." "Go ahead! I'll agree to anything." "That you'll leave this part of California and not come back. I don't want you to cross my path ag'in." "You can bet I don't mean to," said Mosely; and there is no doubt he was entirely in earnest.
"Do you make the same promise, Tom?" asked Bradley, turning to Hadley. "I should say so," returned Hadley; and there is no reason to doubt his sincerity also. "You see, my friends, you don't appear to know the difference between your property and mine, particularly when it comes to hosses. It is an unfortunate little p...
"Feel better, don't you?" asked Bradley, smiling. "I should say so," answered Hadley. "Couldn't you give us something to eat?" asked Mosely; "I haven't eaten a mouthful since yesterday noon, and I feel faint." "Ki Sing," said Bradley, "bring out some victuals. These men are not particular friends of mine, but we won't ...
Ki Sing brought out some cold meat and other plain food, which the two adventurers ate as if they were famished. Their long fast and exposure during the night had sharpened their appetites and lent a keener zest to their enjoyment of the meal. When they had finished Jake Bradley pointed down the mountain. "You've had y...
Bill Mosely wasn't easily abashed. He was lazy, and the prospect of tramping all day was by no means agreeable to him. Thanks to his last robbery, he and his companion were tolerably well supplied with gold-dust, which was a common circulating medium in California at that time. An idea struck him, which he lost no time...
"We've got gold-dust." "Where did you get it? I'll warrant you didn't work for it." "That's our business," answered Mosely, stiffly. "The question is, Do you want to sell?" "No, I don't; and if I did I should want to know whose money I was takin'."
Bill Mosely was disappointed. In that lonely neighborhood it was hardly likely there would be any other opportunity of obtaining horses, and there was nothing for it but to walk. "You haven't got any other business, have you, Mosely?" asked Bradley. "No.--Tom, come on." "Good-bye, then. Our acquaintance has been brief,...
Bill Mosely did not attempt any reply to this farewell, but strode down the sloping path, closely followed by Tom Hadley. When he had got out of hearing of his late captors he turned to Hadley and said, "I hate that man! He has put a stain on my honor; he has insulted and outraged me." "I should say so," observed Tom H...
"When?" inquired his companion, in a matter-of-fact manner. "I don't know. Some time. He has had the advantage over us this time, but we shall meet again. Do you hear that, Tom Hadley?" continued Mosely, in a theatrical tone, raising his voice at the same time--"we shall meet again." "I don't want to meet him again," s...
"Just as you say," returned Tom Hadley, varying his usual formula. "It's very unlucky we went up to that cabin," said Bill, after a pause. "I should say so," chimed in Tom, very emphatically. "It was cursed ill-luck, but how could we know that that dare-devil was a friend of Dewey's? If we'd let well enough alone, we s...