Part 23 (1/2)
”Those days are past,” said Stark, who had joined in the discussion
”There's tooin for all of theressively ”We ain't got no room for stealers Why, I had a hand inwith John Gale, and they stip'lates that any person caught robbin' a cache is to be publicly whipped in front of the tradin'-post, then, if it's winter time, he's to be turned loose on the ice barefooted, or, if it's su with his shi+rt off”
”Either one would er ”Frost in winter, ht,” another bystander declared ”A rub up here, and I'd be in favor of enforcing that punish”
”All the saers here Just to show you how I stand, I've put Runnion on guard over lad when it's under cover It isn't the severity of punish, it's the certainty of it”
”Well, he'd sure get it, and get it proper in this camp,” declared Lee; and at that e, the flaps of the great tent were thrust aside, and Runnion half led, half threw a man into the open space before the bar
”Let's have a look at you,” he panted ”Well, if it ain't a nigger!”
”What's up?” cried theabout the prisoner, who crouched, terror-stricken, in the tra roulette and ”bank” left the tables, followed by the dealers
”He's a thief,” said Runnion, rub pile, Stark”
”In my cache?”
”Yes He dropped a crate of hams when I came up on him, and tried to run, but I dropped hiht hand, and a trickle of blood froro's head showed how he had been felled
”Why didn't you shoot?” growled Stark, angrily, at which the negro half arose and broke into excited denials of his guilt Runnion kicked hiely, and cursed him, while the crowdhis way through the others Fixing his one eye upon the wretch, he spoke iht thief I ever seen Was you hungry?”
”No, he's got plenty,” answered one of the tenderfeet, who had evidently arrived on the boat with the darky ”He's got a bigger outfit than I have”
The prisoner drew hi his enemies sullenly
”Then I reckon it's a divine manifestation,” said ”No Creek” Lee, tearfully ”This black party is goin' to furnish an example as will elevate the moral tone of our community for a year”
”Letunder the bar for a weapon His eyes were cruel, and he had the angry pallor of a dangerous man ”I'll save you a lot of trouble”
”Why not do it legal?” expostulated Lee ”It's just as certain”
”Yes! Lee is right,” echoed the crowd, bent on a Roman holiday
”What y'all aioin' to try you,” announced the one-eyed oin' to be, you'll be flogged
After which perdica without your laundry”
”But the mosquitoes--”
”Too bad you didn't think of theet at this, boys, and have it over with”
In far countries, where men's lives depend upon the safety of their food supply, a side of bacon old; therefore, protection is a strenuous necessity And though any one of those present would have gladly fed the negro had he been needy, each of them likewise knew that unless an example werea ga country, has ever been cruel to thieves, and noas heedless of the blackterror as it set about to try hier sent hurrying to the post for the book in which was recorded the laws of the men who had made the camp