"This fellow doesn't seem much like the hardened criminal I've been told about," remarked the officer.
"Did Prescott tell you I was tough?" demanded the prisoner. "He ought to know! He had a touch of my style when I was feeling better than I feel to-night. I suppose I've been nabbed for helping myself to a sandwich or two from their camp."
"Do you demand to know why you're under arrest?" inquired Deputy
Valden.
Tag nodded.
"Well, then," continued the deputy, "you're wanted for cracking the skull of a farmer named Leigh. There's a doubt if Leigh will live and you may be charged with killing him."
"I? Killed a farmer?" demanded Tag, in what appeared to be very genuine amazement.
"Leigh says you're the chap that did it," Valden answered.
"I never heard of a man of any such name," argued Tag. "Still, if he says I did it, oh, well, he ought to know, and I suppose it will be all right."
"It'll have to be all right—-whatever the courts may do to you, Mosher," Deputy Valden rejoined curtly. "Darrin, will you help the prisoner to his feet and lead him back to where the bridge was? Simmons will expect to find us there when he gets back."
So Darry and Greg Holmes assisted young Mosher to his feet. Dave took hold of Tag's arm, though the latter did not resist, but walked along like one in a dream.