“If you don’t turn around and mind your business, I’ll shoot the top of your head off.”
The three robbers then stood together, watching the coach until it was lost to their view.
“By George!” said Leroy, laughing, “I looked down into those gun-barrels so long that I thought I fairly saw the buckshot leap from their imprisonment. It would have afforded me pleasure to squander the bullets in my pistol on the scoundrel.”
Southmayd lost four hundred dollars in gold, and Captain Moore one hundred dollars in treasury notes. As was usual, quite a large number of people were awaiting the arrival of the coach, when it drove up to the express-office at Bannack. Inquiries were immediately made as to the cause of its detention so much later than common.
“Was the coach robbed to-day?” inquired Plummer of Southmayd, as he jumped from the box.
“It was,” replied Leroy, taking him by the arm, and by his confidential manner signifying that he was about to impart to him, as sheriff, all he knew about it. Just at this moment, Dr. Bissell, the miners’ judge at Virginia City, gave Southmayd a slight nudge, and catching his eye, winked significantly for him to step aside.
“Be careful, Leroy,—very careful what you say to that man.”
Leroy gave an appreciative nod, and rejoined Plummer.
“So you have been robbed,” said the latter. “I’m not surprised,—and I think I can tell you who were the robbers.”
“Who were they?” eagerly asked Southmayd.