Mystified by the actions of the men who had set out to apprehend the supposed horse thieves, the crowd surged about them as they emerged from the store, demanding enlightenment.
An effective barrier between the posse and their ponies, they resisted the attempts of the men to force their way through.
Flushing with anger, fearing that should he tell them the facts some of the shopkeeper's friends might warn him, giving him the chance to escape, the spokesman consulted with his fellows before replying:
"When we get Consollas we'll tell you everything. The sooner we lay hands on him, the sooner you'll know."
By making the one contingent upon the other, the leader of the posse had still further roused the curiosity of the sojourners at the Springs.
And the shrewdness of the move was quickly apparent.
"Everybody hunt for Consollas," cried a voice from the crowd.
Instantly men, women and children turned and scurried in all directions, bent on locating the storekeeper while the horsemen vaulted into their saddles and dashed for the campground.
But when they arrived at the spot where they had left the unconscious merchant he was nowhere to be seen.