Redburn obeyed; he had no other choice.
"Cock it and cover your man!"
"Who do you mean?"
"The cuss under my left-hand aim."
Again the "pilgrim" felt that he could not afford to do otherwise than obey.
So he took "squint" at the gambler's left breast after which Harris withdrew the siege of his left weapon, although he still covered the young Easterner, the same. Quietly he moved around to where the card-sharp sat, white and trembling.
"Gentlemen!" he yelled, in a clear, ringing voice, "will some of you step this way a moment?"
A crowd gathered around in a moment: then the youth resumed:
"Feller-citizens, all of you know how to play cards, no doubt. What is the penalty of cheating, out here in the Hills?"
For a few seconds the room was wrapt in silence; then a chorus of voices gave answer, using a single word: