Then, as the others fell silent, Jack spoke again:
"I knew him by sight, though I never spoke to him. His name was Sam Ward. They said he'd struck it rich—a secret mine somewhere in the mountains."
"Know anything more about him?" The sheriff's voice was heavy with responsibility.
Jack made an impatient gesture.
"He was in the stampede that came up to Forgotten Creek day before yesterday. You know?"
"I know," the sheriff assented. "What else do you know?"
"I know he's dead," Jack snapped. He was heartily sick of this business, and his temper grew strained. "If you have any doubt about it," he added sarcastically, "why, I saw him killed."
There was a general start of surprise over this bald announcement. The sheriff, however, preserved his official composure.
"That ought to help some," was his response. "Supposin' now, you fire ahead, an' tell all you know about this corpse o' your'n."
"No corpse of mine!" Jack retorted gruffly, more than ever annoyed, while Nell felt a qualm of new dread at the sheriff's ambiguous words. But Jack curbed his impatience, and related in detail what he knew concerning the incidents of the tragedy.