“The Murrays have been here, and, had it not been for Stacy, I fear something serious might have happened to me. Stacy really saved me, even going so far as to let one of the outlaws shoot at him. Would you think, from what you have seen of him, that Stacy is brave enough to fight a duel with one of that gang?”
Ham White looked solemn and shook his head.
“Our party is very much worried about you, Miss Briggs—”
“Oh, are they all right?” cried the Overland girl, flushing at thought of her forgetfulness.
“Every one of them, but we must get back to them as soon as possible. Tell me the story.”
Elfreda then related the whole story of her experiences, passing briefly over her trip down the creek and the river, and relating the story of the arrival of Sam Petersen and his death, omitting the incident of the diary, as well as the story of the lost mine and the bag of nuggets and dust.
“Died here? Where is—”
“There!” answered the girl in a low voice, pointing to the bunk. “You and Stacy will please do what is necessary. I could do it if I had to, but so long as you are here it is better not.”
“What did the ruffian who came back here look like?”
Miss Briggs described the man in detail.