“I confess I was rather frightened myself and I advised Mulvey and the others to light out for the west coast and let you waste your time hunting for us among the mountains.
“They wouldn’t have it so. They got the idea that I was treacherous, and that’s why Starkey shot me.”
“Is Starkey the dead man there?”
“Yes. I knew he would lay for me, and I tried to get the drop on him first. Well, I’ve got to go. I know that well enough, and I can tell you, young fellow, that you’ve still got a big job ahead of you if you imagine that you are going to break up Mulvey’s rule here or get your man Miller.”
“I’m going to see Mulvey now.”
“You are, hey? Where do you think you’ll find him?”
“I think you’ll tell me just where to go.”
The dying man looked at Trim with a curious smile.
“Well now,” he muttered at length, “if I could only live to see the fun. I can’t do that, but I won’t spoil it.
“Go down to the end of the meadow and you’ll find a trail leading up the mountain at the other side. Follow that trail straight up the rocks and you’ll come to Mulvey’s palace.