“Nick! Boys! Boys!”
“It’s the Girl!” cried Nick in dismay, at the same time rushing over to the door to intercept her; while Ashby, desirous of preventing any communication between the Girl and the prisoner took up a position between them—unnecessary precautions, since the Girl had no intention of re-entering the room, but wished merely to say that she had forgotten that it was recess and that the boys might have one drink.
At the sound of her voice Johnson paled. He listened to her retreating steps, then turning towards Nick he asked him to lock the door.
“Why, the devil...!” objected the Sheriff, angrily.
“Please,” urged the prisoner with such a look of entreaty in his eyes that Nick could not find it in his heart to deny him, and went forthwith to the door and locked it.
“Why, you—” began Sonora with a hurried movement towards the prisoner.
“You keep out of this, Sonora,” enjoined the Sheriff, coming forward to take a hand in the proceedings. “I handle the rope—pick the tree....”
“Then hurry ...” said Sonora, impatiently, while Trinidad interposed with his usual, “You bet!”
“One moment,” said the prisoner as the miners started to go out; and, strange to relate, the Sheriff ordered the men to halt. Turning once more to the prisoner, he said:
“Be quick—what is it?”