“Ashby!” The road agent started in alarm.
“Ashby—” reiterated Castro and stopped on seeing that Nick had returned to see that all was well.
“All right, Nick, everything’s all right,” Johnson reassured him.
The outlaw’s position remained unchanged until Nick had withdrawn. From where he stood he now saw for the first time the preparations that were being made for his capture: the red torchlights and white candle-lighted lanterns which were reflected through the windows; and a moment more he heard the shouts of the miners calling to one another. Of a sudden he was aroused to a consciousness, at least, of their danger by Castro’s warning:
“By to-morrow’s twilight you must be safe in your rancho.”
The road agent shook his head determinedly.
“No, we raid on.”
Castro was visibly excited.
“There are a hundred men on your track.”
Johnson smiled.