Sharrow hesitated awkwardly, then spoke.
"You was plumb right when you guessed as that skunk wasn't took by the wolves," he said; "plumb right, you was. Wolves never was near him. He vamoosed. He escaped. He's alive even now. Did you know?"
Silk slowly gathered the things from his knees.
"Yes, I knew," he answered quietly. "I know now—to-day—that he is here in this camp."
"An' you just saved his life," added Sharrow. "Saved it at the risk of your own?"
"It was risky," Silk nodded; "decidedly risky."
"It was brave," declared Sharrow. "Real gold brave. And now," he added, "I just reckon you're figgerin' ter do your duty right away, an' hale that thar' low-down, good-fer-nothin' skunk off ter prison—an' wuss?"
Sergeant Silk looked at the man very steadily.
"Why, cert'nly," he answered. "Duty is duty."