King found a place for himself in the circle of men and moved quietly to the outside where he would be less in evidence. The centre of the circle was taken almost immediately by a couple of men who had come out to prove their prowess at "squaw-wrestling."
While the interest in the match was at its height, King felt someone touch his arm, and looking round, found himself face to face with Lush Currie, who, with one finger on his lips as a signal for silence, was beckoning King to come out of the crowd and follow him. King withdrew at once without attracting any attention, and followed Currie until he came up with him just a few yards off on the roadway.
When King had joined him he walked along in silence for a short distance, expecting Currie to speak.
"I just came from up the line," said Currie at last. "I didn't know you were here—where'd you come from?"
King hesitated a moment before he replied. The glimpses he had caught early that morning of the two men in the hills set him thinking during the day, and he was determined to be careful.
"I came from town," he said in reply to Currie's question.
"Yes—but—but when?"
"To-day. Got here in time for supper."
"Got here to-night? You didn't come from McBain's camp to-day?"
King's reply was ready. "No—I took another way this time. But what—"