"But we'll take ye back to the county seat," said Yates. "And ye shall have a fair trial."
"Take all I have, but let me go!" pleaded Noxton, but to this the men with Yates would not listen. Early in the morning the party under Yates set off, taking Noxton along, although the criminal protested that he was too weak to ride. It may be as well to add here that, later on, Noxton, alias Slinky Bill, was tried in court and given a sentence of five years for his misdeeds.
Jack Wumble and Sam had brought along Dick's horse, and they now took good care that the animal should not get away from them. Where to look for Dick, however, was a poser.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing," Tom declared, "I'm not going on to
Larkspur Creek until he is found."
"Or until we have found out what has become of him," added Sam.
"He may be dead, you know."
"I reckon we had best go back to where he took his tumble," said Wumble. "If he escaped he'll come back thar himself, more'n likely."
This appeared to be good advice, and an hour after the departure of
Yates and the others they mounted and set off.
Less than half a mile had been covered when, of a sudden, there came a shot, and a bullet cut through the brush beside them.
"Hullo! this won't do!" cried the old miner. "Come out of sight, an' be putty quick about it, too!"
They rode into a patch of wood and halted. But no more shots came, nor could they locate that which had been fired.