"Suppose we hear what he has to say?"
Gerald, thus appealed to, answered:
"I came into the cabin five minutes ago and found him robbing the old man, and I interfered."
"So he was robbing the old man? Mr. Nixon, is this true?"
"Yes," answered Thomas Nixon, feebly. "He has some of my gold pieces in his pocket."
"Then he must unload. Seize him, Mike."
The two miners seized Ralph in a powerful grasp, and turned his pockets inside out. They discovered about fifty gold coins.
"What have you to say, you thief?" demanded one, sternly.
"He gave them to me," answered Ralph, alarmed.
"No, no; it isn't so," protested Thomas Nixon. "He took them out of yonder box. I tried to stop him, but it did no good. Then that brave boy came in and the rascal tried to murder him."