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In a few minutes her husband followed。 The closing of the door was
the first warning the judge received of it。
〃Who was that？〃 he interrupted Pierre's narrative to ask。
〃Bill Peabody；〃 somebody spoke up。 〃Said he wanted to ask his wife
something and was coming right back。〃
Instead of Bill； it was Lucy who re…entered； took off her furs； and
resumed her place by the stove。
〃I reckon we don't need to hear the rest of the witnesses；〃 was Shunk
Wilson's decision； when Pierre had finished。 〃We know they only can
testify to the same facts we've already heard。 Say； Sorensen； you go an'
bring Bill Peabody back。 We'll be votin' a verdict pretty short。 Now；
Stranger； you can get up an' say your say concernin' what happened。 In
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the meantime we'll just be savin' delay by passin' around the two rifles； the
ammunition； an' the bullets that done the killin'。〃
Midway in his story of how he had arrived in that part of the country；
and at the point in his narrative where he described his own ambush and
how he had fled to the bank； Smoke was interrupted by the indignant
Shunk Wilson。
〃Young man； what sense is there in you testifyin' that way？ You're
just takin' up valuable time。 Of course you got the right to lie to save
your neck； but we ain't goin' to stand for such foolishness。 The rifle； the
ammunition； the bullet that killed Joe Kinade is against youWhat's that？
Open the door； somebody！〃
The frost rushed in； taking form and substance in the heat of the room；
while through the open door came the whining of dogs that decreased
rapidly with distance。
〃It's Sorensen an' Peabody；〃 some one cried； 〃a…throwin' the whip into
the dawgs an' headin' down river！〃
〃Now； what the hell！〃 Shunk Wilson paused； with dropped jaw； and
glared at Lucy。 〃I reckon you can explain； Mrs Peabody。〃
She tossed her head and compressed her lips； and Shunk Wilson's
wrathful and suspicious gaze passed on and rested on Breck。
〃An' I reckon that new…comer you've ben chinning with could explain
if HE had a mind to。〃
Breck； now very uncomfortable； found all eyes centred on him。
〃Sam was chewing the rag with him； too； before he hit out；〃 some one
said。
〃Look here； Mr Breck；〃 Shunk Wilson continued。 〃You've ben
interruptin' proceedings； and you got to explain the meanin' of it。 What
was you chinnin' about？〃
Breck cleared his throat timidly and replied。 〃I was just trying to buy
some grub。〃
〃What with？〃
〃Dust； of course。〃
〃Where'd you get it？〃
Breck did not answer。
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Smoke Bellew
〃He's ben snoopin' around up the Stewart；〃 a man volunteered。 〃I run
across his camp a week ago when I was huntin'。 An' I want to tell you he
was almighty secretious about it。〃
〃The dust didn't come from there；〃 Breck said。 〃That's only a low…
grade hydraulic proposition。〃
〃Bring your poke here an' let's see your dust；〃 Wilson commanded。
〃I tell you it didn't come from there。〃
〃Let's see it just the same。〃
Breck made as if to refuse； but all about him were menacing faces。
Reluctantly； he fumbled in his coat pocket。 In the act of drawing forth a
pepper can； it rattled against what was evidently a hard object。
〃Fetch it all out！〃 Shunk Wilson thundered。
And out came the big nugget； first…size； yellow as no gold any
onlooker had ever seen。 Shunk Wilson gasped。 Half a dozen； catching
one glimpse； made a break for the door。 They reached it at the same
moment； and； with cursing and scuffling； jammed and pivoted through。
The judge emptied the contents of the pepper can on the table； and the
sight of the rough lump…gold sent half a dozen more toward the door。
〃Where are you goin'？〃 Eli Harding asked； as Shunk started to follow。
〃For my dogs； of course。〃
〃Ain't you goin' to hang him？〃
〃It'd take too much time right now。 He'll keep till we get back； so I
reckon this court is adjourned。 This ain't no place for lingerin'。〃
Harding hesitated。 He glanced savagely at Smoke； saw Pierre
beckoning to Louis from the doorway； took one last look at the lump… gold
on the table； and decided。
〃No use you tryin' to get away；〃 he flung back over his shoulder。
〃Besides； I'm goin' to borrow your dogs。〃
〃What is itanother one of them blamed stampedes？〃 the old blind
trapper asked in a queer and petulant falsetto； as the cries of men and dogs
and the grind of the sleds swept the silence of the room。
〃It sure is；〃 Lucy answered。 〃An' I never seen gold like it。 Feel that；
old man。〃
She put the big nugget in his hand。 He was but slightly interested。
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Smoke Bellew
〃It was a good fur…country；〃 he complained； 〃before them danged
miners come in an' scared back the game。〃
The door opened； and Breck entered。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃we four are all that are left in camp。 It's forty miles
to the Stewart by the cut…off I broke； and the fastest of them can't make the
round trip in less than five or six days。 But it's time you pulled out；
Smoke； just the same。〃
Breck drew his hunting knife across the other's bonds； and glanced at
the woman。
〃I hope you don't object？〃 he said； with significant politeness。
〃If there's goin' to be any shootin'；〃 the blind man broke out； 〃I wish
somebody'd take me to another cabin first。〃
〃Go on； an' don't mind me；〃 Lucy answered。 〃If I ain't good enough
to hang a man； I ain't good enough to hold him。〃
Smoke stood up； rubbing his wrists where the thongs had impeded the
circulation。
〃I've got a pack all ready for you；〃 Breck said。 〃Ten days' grub；
blankets； matches； tobacco； an axe； and a rifle。〃
〃Go to it；〃 Lucy encouraged。 〃Hit the high places； Stranger。 Beat it
as fast as God'll let you。〃
〃I'm going to have a square meal before I start；〃 Smoke said。 〃And
when I start it will be up the McQuestion； not down。 I want you to go
along with me； Breck。 We're going to search that other bank for the man
that really did the killing。〃
〃If you'll listen to me； you'll head down for the Stewart and the
Yukon；〃 Breck objected。 〃When this gang gets back from my low…grade
hydraulic proposition； it will be seeing red。〃
Smoke laughed and shook his head。
〃I can't jump this country； Breck。 I've got interests here。 I've got to
stay and make good。 I don't care whether you believe me or not； but I've
found Surprise Lake。 That's where that gold came from。 Besides； they
took my dogs； and I've got to wait to get them back。 Also； I know what
I'm about。 There was a man hidden on that bank。 He came pretty close
to emptying his magazine at me。〃
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Half an hour afterward； with a big plate of moose…steak before him and
a big mug of coffee at his lips； Smoke half…started up from his seat。 He
had heard the sounds first。 Lucy threw open the door。
〃Hello； Spike； hello； Methody；〃 she greeted the two frost…rimed men
who were bending over the burden on their sled。
〃We just come down from Upper Camp；〃 one said； as the pair
staggered into the room with a fur…wrapped object which they handled
with exceeding gentleness。 〃An' this is what we found by the way。 He's
all in； I guess。〃
〃Put him in the near bunk there；〃 Lucy said。 She bent over and
pulled back the furs； disclosing a face composed principa