“A friend who has journeyed here with me is to meet me here to-night.—Ah, here is one gentleman who knows us;” and he made a step towards their bluff acquaintance of that evening, who had risen from his seat farther in, and was looking frowningly on. “Speak a word for us, sir.”
“Well, my lad, I never saw you till to-night,” was the reply. “I did have a chat with this man, gentlemen, and his mate there, and I found them well-spoken young fellows as ever I met.”
“But you never saw them before,” said the dark man.
“Well, I must tell the truth,” said the gold-finder.
“Of course.”
“No,” said the man sadly, “I never did but fair play, gentlemen, please.”
“They shall have fair play enough,” said the dark man. “What about your friend, prisoners, is this he?”
“Prisoners!” gasped Abel. “No, no; a friend who travelled with us.”
“Bah! Another lie, gentlemen,” cried Redbeard mockingly; “they were alone, and shot my mate, so that it was two to two; but they took us in ambush like, and by surprise. They hadn’t got no friend with ’em.”
“Yes, they had,” cried a loud voice which dominated the roar of anger which arose; “they had me; I was along with ’em—only a little un, my sons, but big enough for you all to see.”