“Bedad,” answered the Irishman, “th’ two blackguards that was chasin’ yerself could have tould yez.”
He scowled, looked back along the trail, and shook his clenched fist.
“Here’s mystery,” said Dell, “and it must be serious to get your Irish up like that. However did those two men who were chasing me have anything to do with you?”
“They snaked him off’n er buckboard an’ put him inter a b’ar-trap,” guffawed Nomad. “He was yellin’ ter git out while I was passin’ through ther basin, an’ arter a spell o’ lookin’ I managed ter locate him.”
“In a bear-trap!” cried Dell. “Did they rob you, Golightly?”
“Sorry a thing did Oi have about me that was worth th’ takin’,” answered Golightly, “barrin’ th’ ould man’s team an’ buckboard.”
“Why did they take that?”
“Ask me somethin’ aisy.”
“Were you going to Phœnix?”
“Oi was. Oi got as far as th’ basin, an’ shpent th’ rest av th’ toime in that bear-thrap!”