."

"Well, that's cheeky," said Joshua, aghast at the man's impudence.
"Why, I know you as well as if we'd been to school together. You are
the Rip-tail Roarer. You are from Pike County, Missouri, you are.
You can whip your weight in wildcats. That's he, gentlemen. I leave
it to you."

In giving the description, Joshua imitated the boastful accents of
his old comrade with such success that the assembled miners laughed
and applauded.

"That's he! You've got him!" they cried.

"Just hear that, old Rip-tail," said Mr. Bickford. "You see these
gentlemen here believe me and they don't believe you."

"There's a man in this here country that looks like me," said the
Pike man, with a lame excuse. "You've met him, likely."

"That won't go down, old Rip-tail. There ain't but one man can whip
his weight in wildcats and tell the all-firedest yarns out. That's
you, and there ain't no gettin' round it."

"This is a plot, gentlemen," said the man from Pike, glancing
uneasily at the faces around him, in which he read disbelief of his
statements. "My word is as good as his."

"Maybe it is," said Mr. Bickford. "I'll call another witness. Joe,
jest tell our friends here what you know about the gentleman from
Pike. If I'm lyin', say so, and I'll subside and never say another
word about it."

"All that my friend Bickford says is perfectly true," said Joe
modestly. "This man partook of our hospitality and then repaid us by
going off early one morning when we were still asleep, carrying off
all our provisions and exchanging his own worn-out horse for my
friend's mustang, which was a much better animal."

The man from Pike had not at first seen Joe. His countenance fell
when he saw how Mr. Bickford's case was strengthened, and for the
moment he could not think of a word to say.

"You are sure this is the man, Joe?" asked, the leader of the miners.

"Yes, I will swear to it. He is not a man whom it is easy to
mistake."

"I believe you. Gentlemen," turning to the miners who were sitting
or standing about him, "do you believe this stranger or our two
friends?"

The reply was emphatic, and the man from Pike saw that he was
condemned.

"Gentlemen," he said, rising, "you are mistaken, and I am the victim
of a plot. It isn't pleasant to stay where I am suspected, and I'll
bid you good evening."

"Not so fast!" said the leader, putting his hand heavily on his
shoulder. "You deserve to be punished, and you shal