"Oh!"
"But that's not all," continued Collins. "Badger is dead——"
"Dead!" echoed all.
"Yes, dead; but just before he pegged out he confessed that it was him killed Tom Edwards——"
"I was right in my belief," said Mr. Willett solemnly.
"Yes," continued Collins, "and now every man in the camp, even those that was the bitterest, are jest achin' to see you, and to congratulate you, and to ax yer parding; so let's go up. Thar's no danger to you nor your's in Hurley's Gulch now," and there was a ring of pride in the brave fellow's voice.
The Gold Cave campers, happier than we can describe over their reunion, followed Collins from the dugout to the canvas settlement on the bluff.
As soon as the assembled miners caught sight of them they sent up such a glad shout as was never heard before nor since on the banks of that particular gulch.
At heart the great mass of men are right, and they mean to do right. Among these miners there seemed to be a general disposition to make amends as speedily as possible for their past errors.
Not satisfied with cheering and shouting their congratulations, they rushed in by twos and fours, and beginning with Mr. Willett, they lifted all the Gold Cave campers—not neglecting Ike and Wah Shin—to their shoulders, and then marched in triumphal procession to the scene of the trial at the hotel.