There was nothing else to be done. For a second
he gazed at it ruefully. But it was only the sight of the murdered
man's blood on it that disturbed him, and not any thought of the
consequences of its discovery.

"It's Will Henderson's blood," he said frankly. "It was necessary for
me to touch him."

The frankness of his admission was not without its effect upon those
who did not belong to Smallbones' extremist party, but to them it
passed as a mere subterfuge. They promptly gave voice to an ominous
murmur which momentarily threatened to break out into violence. But
Smallbones saw fresh possibilities. He suddenly changed his frenzied
tactics, and entirely moderated his tone.

"You've come straight in?" he inquired.

"Yep." Jim's face wore something approaching a smile. He knew exactly
what to expect before the night was out, and Smallbones' questions had
no terrors for him. He had nothing to gain, and nothing to lose,
except that which he had already made up his mind to lose--if
necessary.

"What wer' you doin' out by that bluff?" Smallbones demanded.

"That's my business."

The little man snarled furiously. All eyes were set curiously upon
Jim's face, but there were several smiles at the manner of the snub.
Peter Blunt standing beside Angel Gay was hopelessly wondering at the
sudden turn of events.

But now Doc Crombie once more took the lead.

"We'll send up six boys and bring him in. I'll go myself." He turned
and gave his orders. Then his luminous eyes settled themselves
steadily upon Jim's face. "We want the rights o' this, sure. Do you
know anything more?"

But Jim was tired of the questioning. He shrugged his shoulders.

"I've told all I've got to tell you. For Heaven's sake, go and fetch
in the man's body. It'll maybe tell you more than it told me."

He turned to the bar and called for a drink, which he devoured
thirstily.

But Doc Crombie was not to be dealt with in so cavalier a fashion.

"You'll come along up an' show us just wher' Henderson is," he said
sharply. "It'll make it easier findin'." He stepped up to him, and
tapped him on the shoulder. "Do you get me? Ther's been murder done,
an'----"

"I'll stay right here," said Jim, flashing round on him. "I've seen
all I want to see up there. You'll have no difficulty locating him.
He's on the south side."

"You'll come----" Doc began.

But Smallbones, still smarting under his snub, could no longer keep
silent.

"Take him prisoner," h