sad spectacle until the men had passed from view,
he turned and ran through the grove, believing the officers were close
upon him.

The news that two miners and a boy had probably been killed spread
through the village rapidly, and Cale Billings was in Taylor's groggery
when one of the late rioters brought the intelligence.

"It's a wonder they don't accuse us of havin' somethin' to do with the
accident," the newcomer added, and the proprietor said sternly:

"I don't want to drive customers away, but if any who come here have had
a hand in murder, they'd better not show their heads 'round this place
again."

Billings looked disturbed, but made no reply. Although having had no
direct share in the crime, he knew he was really an accomplice, and the
knowledge that Taylor might inform against him was by no means pleasant.

It was eight o'clock in the evening when Skip ventured to come down from
the hillside, and he looked like a boy who had been very ill. Even at
this late hour he did not dare to walk through the village, but skulked
around the outskirts until he saw Chunky, whom he hailed in a whisper.

"Where have you been?" Fred's chute mate asked in surprise.

"I had some work on the other side of the hill."

"Have you been there all day?"

"Yes. Jest got back. Are those fellows dead!"

Ordinarily Chunky was not quick to arrive at conclusions, but now he
asked in a suspicious tone:

"How did you know anything about it if you've jest got back?"

"Oh, I heard from some of the fellows."

"Who?"

"Never mind," and Skip spoke sharply.

"Did they all get killed?"

"None of 'em; but the doctor says Fred won't be over it for three or
four days. Joe an' Bill are both in bed, though they'll be out in the
morning."

"Does Wright know who did it?"

"Did what?"

"Why, knock--whatever was done."

"I thought the roof of a cuttin' fell in 'cause it wasn't shored up
enough."

"I s'pose that was the reason," Skip replied in a nervous way.

"It seems to me you know more about this thing than anybody else."

"You'd better not say that again," and Skip stepped forward a few paces
with clenched fists.

"You can get the best of me, so I'll have to hold my tongue; but I
reckon I've had all I want of the regulators. Tryin' to kill a feller
who never did much of anything to you is a mean trick."

"Shut up or I'll knock your head off. You can't back out of our s'ciety,
an' if you ever say I tried to kill anybody