“Speak above a whisper, and you’re a dead man!”
The fingers relaxed as the threat was made; and Toby Sam, clutching his aching throat, stared again at the men who had captured him.
“Search him, Gordon!”
Pawnee Bill “went through” the pockets of Toby Sam. “Ah!” he said, in a tone of surprise. “What’s this?” He had found the bag of emeralds.
Buffalo Bill’s last remaining wax match illuminated the contents of the bag, showing the nature of the find.
Then they began to question Toby Sam.
He tried to lie, at first; but the cold muzzle of Buffalo Bill’s revolver, thrust into his face, convinced him of the wisdom of telling the truth. Then he admitted the theft of the emeralds from Black John, and told where Black John was hiding with his prisoner.
“Hear that, Bruce?” said Buffalo Bill.
Another man—a young man—had crept forward, and was listening. He was shaking with excitement.
“You must lead us to the place,” he said. “Is she well, and unharmed?”