"Who done it?" demanded Captain Bagley.
"I—I—I wouldn't like to say," said Alec, "because I am not absolutely certain. I'd hate to accuse any man of attempting to commit murder unless I was sure. I never really saw the man because it was so dark."
"Ain't you got any idea who it was?"
"All I've got to go on is the voice. I could hear that in the dark as well as in the light."
"Had you heard it before?"
"Yes, sir. It sounded very much like the voice of the man you discharged."
"I reckon you are right, youngster. I reckon you are right. I only wish you was a little more certain about it. He ought to go to prison. But I'd like to have sufficient evidence to make a case before I have him arrested. Maybe I can find somebody who seen him in that neighborhood. I'll scout around a bit and see what I can pick up."
"I wouldn't want him imprisoned," said Alec. "He didn't do me any harm, even if he did try to."
"We don't know yet whether he did you any harm or not, and anyhow, that's got nothing to do with it. We can't afford to have that sort of cattle running at large."