“Caesar,” said Roderick, “did you ever see those men before?”
“No, massa.”
“They must have followed you from Oreville. Hello, you two!” he added striding towards the miners. “What do you want here?”
Fred and Otto had accomplished their object in ascertaining the place where Rodney was confined, and no longer cared for concealment.
“None of your business!” retorted Fred independently. “The place is as free to us as to you.”
“Are you spies?”
“I don’t intend to answer any of your questions.”
“Clear out of here!” commanded Roderick in a tone of authority.
“Suppose we don’t?”
Roderick was a man of quick temper, and had never been in the habit of curbing it. He was provoked by the independent tone of the speaker, and without pausing to think of the imprudence of his actions, he raised his rifle and pointing at Fred shot him in the left arm.