Winston struck his hand against the log, as slight vent to his feelings.
"Hicks, I never supposed you were a fool. You know better than that,
if you will only stop and think. This claim matter is settled already.
The whole trouble originated with Farnham, and he is dead. Tomorrow
you 'll bury him. The sheriff is here, and he's already beginning to
understand this affair. He stands to help you. Now, all you 've got
to do is to swear out warrants for Farnham's partners, and show up in
evidence that tunnel running along your lead. It's simple as A B C,
now that you know it's there. They can't beat you, and you don't
require a word of testimony from me. But that poor girl needs
me,--she's almost crazed by this thing,--and I 'm going with her, if I
have to fight my way out from here with a rifle. That's the whole of
it--either you give me those horses, or I 'll take them."
Old Hicks looked into the grim face fronting him so threateningly, the
complete situation slowly revealing itself to his mind.
"Great Guns!" he said at last, almost apologetically. "Yer need n't do
nothin' like that. Lord, no! I like yer first rate, an' I like the
girl. Yer bet I do, an' I 'm damn glad that Farnham 's knocked out.
Shore, I 'll help the both o' yer. I reckon Stutter 'd be no good as a
guide ter-night, but I kin show yer the way down the ravine. The rest
is just ridin'. Yer kin leave them hosses with the section-boss at
Daggett till I come fer 'em."