"Did she tell you in what way?" asked Eustace, quickly.
"No. I guess she never says more than is needful. But she saw you, and heard that Frank Lancaster had skipped. Then Berry said that he was certain you knew the whereabouts of the fellow, and asked me to come down and try to get the truth from you. That's what I call acting a spy. Well, I am here, and I came to tell you this."
"I am much obliged to you, Denham. I suppose it is in order to prove your right to this fortune that Berry offered the reward?"
"He said as much," replied the young man, "but I pointed out that if Lancaster were to come forward he might be hanged, and that no fellow could be expected to be such a fool. Upon my word!" said Denham, walking and talking very fast, "I believe for some reason that Berry wants the poor chap lynched."
"I think so too," admitted Jarman, much to Natty's surprise.
"Then you don't like Berry?"
"No, and I don't like Miss Berry. I know too much about both. It's a pity, Denham--since we are now confidential--that you are with these people."
"Well, I guess Banjo Berry was a friend of my father's, and I was handed over to him as a ward. I never liked him particularly, nor his niece either."
"Is she his niece?"
"I believe so. My father lived at Los Angeles and the Berrys were often at our house. My father seemed thick with Berry, and, to tell you the truth, rather afraid of him. He died a year or so ago, and by his will I was handed over to Berry on account of this fortune. I was shunted here to look after it, but if the getting of it includes the chance of a man being lynched--I pass. I don't need to hang on to this gang, as I've enough to marry on. Berry can go to blazes for me. I sha'n't recognise his guardianship any longer."