"I caught them in here—I'm in charge of this work, you see. I tried to stop them. They shot me and left me here. They said they'd send a doctor."
"I'm the doctor," replied the medical man, who stood looking at him. "Where is that woman?"
Big Aleck rolled his head. "I don't know. I don't know nothing. I'm shot—I'm going to die."
"We've got to get out," said Doctor Barnes. "Boys, shall we get him into the car?"
"No!" said Sim Gage, sharply. "I won't ride with him. Where is she?" He stepped close up to Big Aleck, pushing in front of the others. "You know. Damn you, tell me!"
"Keep him away!" yelled Big Aleck. "He's going to kill me!" He tried to get on his elbows, his hands and knees, but could not, broken down as he was. He was abject—an evil man overtaken by an evil fate.
"Where is she?" repeated Sim Gage. "Tell me!"
"I tell you I don't know. She ran off, that way."
"That's the car that brung her up!" said Wid Gardner, motioning toward the ragged tire of the rear wheel. "See that tire, Sim? That's the car! She's been here."
"Go see if you can git the trail, Wid," said Sim Gage to his friend. "Quick!"