"Then there is a prospect of his recovering?" demanded Fred, anxiously.
"Well, I should think there was a right smart chance of his getting on his pins in the course of time. It's hard killing such ugly customers, you know."
"I am thankful that he will not die by my hand," replied Fred, with his whole heart.
"Well, it's just as one fancies, you know. Now I shouldn't have thought it a great crime had the old scamp been peppered right through the heart. But, how's this?"
The eyes of Charley wandered around the tent as though he saw something that excited his suspicions. We looked at him with astonishment.
"It ain't the way the miners have been accustomed to be treated, and I'm sorry that I had any thing to do with the duel, 'cos I'll be blamed," Charley said, shaking his head, and looking as mournful as though he had just heard of the death of his grandfather.
"Will you be kind enough to tell us what you disapprove of," asked Fred, anxiously.
"Well, I hope that I'll be acquitted of all blame, and I want you to say so when the influential miners make their appearance," our new acquaintance said, still shaking his head and muttering to himself.
"Pray, what do you mean?" repeated Fred, beginning to feel a little nervous and a little angry at the same time.
"Well, I suppose you know something 'bout the customs of the miners, don't you?" Charley asked.