"'Nevertheless,' he insists, 'I done it. And I'll tell you just how it was done. Here's yore old express crawlin' up the road. Here I am behind this little old rock. You know what happened next I reckon—from experience.'
"'I reckon I know that,' says I, 'but how did you get behind that rock without leavin' no tracks?'
"I climbed up the cliff out of the cañon, and I just walked up the cañon from the Lost Dog through the brush.'
"'Yes,' says I, 'that might be: a man could make out to shinny up. But how——'
"'One thing to a time. Then I ordered them dust sacks throwed out, and the driver to 'bout-face and retreat.'
"'Sure,' says I, 'simple as a wart on a kid's nose. There was you with a half ton of gold to fly off with! Come again.'
"'I then dropped them sacks off the edge of the cliff where they rolled into the brush. After a while I climbed down after them, and was on hand when your posse started out. Then I carried them home at leisure.'
"'What did you do with your hoss?' I asked him, mighty sarcastic. 'Seems to me you overlook a few bets.'
"'I didn't have no hoss,' says he.
"'But the real hold-up——