The day after the robbery of Mr. Vandewater’s store, a group of some half-dozen men were assembled around a fine fire kindled on the ground, in the midst of a dense thicket, at the foot of the mountains, on the Contra Costa side of the Bay of San Francisco.
‘He’s a daring young devil, and with pluck, quickness, and a little science, I’m d—d if I don’t think he could whip any thing of his weight in the world.’
This remark was made by Belcher Kay to Blodget, as Maretzo, who was one of the party, finished narration of Monteagle’s assault upon him, and his consequent escape.
‘Curse his pluck, and your science Belcher. If ever I draw trigger on either of you all your science wouldn’t save you from a quick trip to ‘kingdom come.’ But, the deuce take it, I dare not show my face in the city; for Monteagle will surely denounce me to that devilish Vigilance Committee, and then my fun’s up,’ said Blodget.
‘Well, old fellow,’ said Kay, ‘I’ll see that you’re well supplied with everything needful, till this thing blows over. You stay out here and make yourself comfortable. If we could only get this Monteagle out of the way, all would go right. For from what Maretzo learned in the city, none of us are suspected except you, and you only because you kept Monteagle’s company. Well, if that ain’t a good ’un, I’m blowed,’ continued Belcher Kay, laughing heartily at the idea of Monteagle’s leading Blodget astray.
‘I am this Monteagle’s debtor for that blow he gave me,’ said Maretzo, and his dark eyes flashed with vindictive hate. ‘I’ll get him out of the way.’
‘Have a care, Maretzo, that knife of yours will bring us all into trouble some of those days,’ said Blodget.
‘This time it will not be the knife, but something even surer still,’ and as he spoke, he exhibited a small bottle. ‘A drop from this vial, and his tongue will never harm us again.’
‘Well,’ said Kay. ‘We’ll think over this matter. But just now let’s split the swag.’
And forthwith the thieves proceeded to apportion out the thirty thousand dollars equitably between them, not forgetting a share for some who were absent but who belonged to the gang, and were entitled by their rules to a share of the plunder obtained in the course of their marauding expeditions.