A babel of comments, loud, profane, excited, relieved, arose. Hepburn stood as if struck dumb, mouth agape and then, face growing dark with a rush of blood under the bronzed skin, he said:
"I thought you said you didn't see a soul!"
"I said I didn't see a man, you pole-cat!" Beck retorted and his eyes danced. Webb sat down on a bunk as though suddenly weakened. Riley, voice husky, took Tom's hand, shook it gravely.
"Why didn't you tell us, my boy?" he questioned.
The rest stopped to hear the answer:
"I didn't want to spill my case before this ... this hombre showed his full hand," he lied.
He turned to look at the other who had lied ... but Jane Hunter had fled.