Chapter Seventeen.
A trial for life.
“It’s false! A cowardly lie!” cried Dallas at last, as he tried to shake himself free.
“Quiet!” cried one of his captors fiercely, “or you’ll git into trouble!”
“Yes, a lie—a lie!” cried Abel, finding his voice. “Don’t choke me, sir. Give a man fair play.”
“Oh, yes, you shall have fair play,” said another sternly.
“Those men attacked and tried to murder us both yonder in the snowy pass.”
“Well! I ham!” roared the red-bearded scoundrel, looking round protestingly at all present. “But there, I’ve done.”
He dropped heavily back in his seat, and held up his hands to his two companions.
“That’s a queer way of defending yourself, young fellow,” said a stern, square-looking man, who spoke roughly, but in a way that suggested education.