“Jest as I sed,” retorted the weary messenger. “Guess I helped sheriff to deposit it in the bank.”

“And he’s dead?”

The man stirred impatiently and spat.

“Dead––as mutton.”

Minky sighed.

“An’ you come along the Spawn City trail?” he asked presently.

“I ain’t got wings.”

“An’ you saw––?”

“The birds flappin’ around––nigh chokin’ with human meat.”

The man laughed cynically.