Part 44 (1/2)

It was about an hour later, when their fellow gold-seekers who had come to their help had gone, promising to return next day and help over the interment of the dead man, that Dallas turned to Tregelly, who was seated with his big arms resting upon his knees, gazing down into the cheery fire that had been lit.

”Sleepy, Bob?”

”Nay, my son. Never felt so wide awake in my life. I'm thinking.”

”What about?” asked Abel.

”About having killed a man,” said the big fellow gravely.

”It was in self-defence,” said Dallas.

”I dunno, my son. You see, I never give him a chance. Seems rather cowardly.”

”The wretch was trying to destroy our lives,” cried Abel hotly.

”Eh?”

”Yes; he and his companion had been firing at us for long enough,” said Abel.

”Ah,” cried Dallas, ”and they did wound the dog. Here, old fellow, let's look at you.”

In effect, the dog was just then licking at one particular part of his back, and examination proved that a bullet had ploughed off a little strip of skin.

”Only make him sore for a bit,” said Tregelly, after he had examined the dog in turn. ”Poor old chap! I wish I'd a bit o' pitch to touch it over for you. But I hadn't thought of that, my sons.”

”Thought of what?”

”'Bout him trying to kill you. That didn't make it quite so bad o' me, did it?”

”Bad? It was stern justice, meted out to a murderer,” said Dallas firmly.

Tregelly looked at him for some moments thoughtfully. ”Think so?” he said.

”Of course!” cried Abel, ”and so do I. You didn't want us to be killed, did you?”

”Lor' a mussy me, my son! of course not. That's why I took aim at him.”

”And saved our lives, Bob,” cried Dallas, clapping him hard on the shoulder.

”You think, then, that they'd have settled you if I hadn't come and stopped their little game?”

”I feel sure of it,” cried Dallas.

”Hah! Yes, of course. Thank ye, my sons. I was feeling a bit uncomfortable, and beginning to think that I should be having the chap coming to bed to me every night and telling me how I'd shot him in a cowardly way; but I shan't now. That's done me a lot o' good. Hah! I feel now as if I should like a pipe.”

The big, amiable, honest face lit up, and was lightened by a smile as he began searching his pockets for his tobacco-pouch and pipe.

”You see, I never killed a man before,” he said. ”But you can hardly call a chap like that a man. More like a wild beast--sort o' tiger.”