weapon into its holster, would
have mounted to put into instant action the plan of the well-considered
alibi, a barrel-bodied figure launched itself from the commissary porch,
and a vigorous hand dragged horse and man into the shadow of the
stables.

"Off wid you now, you blunderin' dago divvle!" gritted the MacMorrogh
savagely. "It's all av our necks ye've put into a rope, this time, damn
you!"

The Mexican had dismounted and was calmly reloading his pistol.

"You t'ink-a he's not-a sufficiently kill? I go over to da car and
bring-a you da proof, _si_?"

"You'll come wid me," raved the big contractor. "'Tis out av your clumsy
hands, now, ye black-hearted blunderin' cross betune a Digger Indian and
a Mexican naygur! Come on, I say!"

The back room of the commissary to which the MacMorrogh led the way
held three men; Eckstein, and the two younger members of the contracting
firm. They had heard the fusillade in the camp street and were waiting
for news. Brian MacMorrogh gave it, garnished with many oaths.

"The pin-brained omadhaun av a Mexican has twishted a rope for all av
us! He's let Ford come back, alive; let him get to the very dure av the
prisident's car! Then, begorra! he must mades show himself under the
electhrics and open fire on the man who was kicking at the dure and
looking sthraight at him!"

Eckstein asked a single question.

"Did he get him? If he's dead he can't very well tell who shot him."

"That's the hell av it!" raged the big man. "Who's to know?"

Eckstein spat out the extinct cigar stump he was chewing.

"We are to know--beyond a question of doubt, this time. Who is in the
Nadia, besides Ford?"

"The two naygurs."

"No one else?"

MacMorrogh shook his head. "No wan."

"You are sure Mr. Adair and Brissac are out of the way?"

"They got Gallagher to push them up to Frisbie's track camp in Misther
North's car an hour before dark."

"None of your men are likely to drift in from the other way up the
line?"

"Not unless somebody carries the news av the gold sthrike--and there's
nobody going that way to carry it. The camp's empty but for us."

Eckstein rose and buttoned his coat.

"You have held your own strikers--the men you can depend upon: how many
do we count, all told?"

"Thirteen, counting the five av us here, and the felly that runs the
electhric light plant."

"H'm; it's a hell of a risk: thirteen men knowing what only one should
know--and what that one should hurry