ght, gents," said the man, who was evidently the landlord.
"We're having a big night. There's a man from Upper Creek with a fine
sample of gold. I could show you if you like. Happy to bank for you
too if you strike it rich, and supply you with stores and good advice.
Any one will speak up for me."

"But surely that means a row," said Dallas, as a roar of voices came
from the canvas building.

"No; that's about a robbery on the track. Three men came in to-day, and
they're telling the lads how they were attacked and half killed. The
Vigilants are strong here to-night, and there'll be business if the
fellows are caught. We don't stand any nonsense here."

"Shall we go in, Bel?" whispered Dallas.

"Yes; we needn't stay long," was the reply. "I want to talk to that man
with the gold."

"This way, gentlemen," said the bar-keeper. "You follow me."

The pair followed the man into the long low place, along each side of
which were trestle tables crowded with men drinking and smoking, the
tobacco fumes nearly filling the place like a fog. There was a gangway
down the centre, and they followed their guide nearly to the end, when
both started violently at the sight of a group of three men seated at a
table beneath the largest swinging lamp, whose reflector threw a bright
light down on the biggest of the party, who was on his legs, waving his
pipe as he talked loudly.

"You're making a mistake, mates," he said. "It's just as I telled you,
and if it hadn't been for the pluck of my pals here we should have been
dead as well as robbed. But you mark my words; they'll make for here,
and if they do--ah, what did I say? Look, mates, look; this here's the
very pair."

There was a wild shout of rage, as every man in the place seemed to leap
to his feet; and before, utterly stunned by the sudden attack and
denunciation, either of the new-comers could find words to utter in
their defence, they were seized and dragged to their knees.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

A TRIAL FOR LIFE.

"It's false! A cowardly lie!" cried Dallas at last, as he tried to
shake himself free.

"Quiet!" cried one of his captors fiercely, "or you'll git into
trouble!"

"Yes, a lie--a lie!" cried Abel, finding his voice. "Don't choke me,
sir. Give a man fair play."

"Oh, yes, you shall have fair play," said another sternly.

"Those men attacked and tried to murder us both yonder in the snowy
pass."

"Well! I ham!" roared the red-bearded scou