book in which was recorded the laws of the men who had made the camp.
The crowd was determined that this should be done legally and as
prescribed by ancient custom up and down the river. So, to make itself
doubly sure, it gave Runnion's evidence a hearing; then, taking
lanterns, went down to the big tarpaulin-covered pile beside the river,
where it found the crate of hams and the negro's tracks. There was no
defence for the culprit and he offered none, being too scared by now to
do more than plead. The proceedings were simple and quiet and grim, and
were wellnigh over when Lieutenant Burrell walked into the tent saloon.
He had been in his quarters all day, fighting a fight with himself, and
in the late evening, rebelling against his cramped conditions and the
war with his conscience, he had sallied out, and, drawn by the crowd in
Stark's place, had entered.

A man replied to his whispered question, giving him the story, for the
meeting was under Lee's domination, and the miners maintained an
orderly and business-like procedure. The chairman's indigestion had
vanished with his sudden assumption of responsibility, and he showed no
trace of drink in his bearing. Beneath a lamp one was binding four-foot
lengths of cotton tent-rope to a broomstick for a knout, while others,
whom Lee had appointed, were drawing lots to see upon whom would
devolve the unpleasant duty of flogging the captive. The
matter-of-fact, relentless expedition of the affair shocked Burrell
inexpressibly, and seeing Poleon and Gale near by, he edged towards
them, thinking that they surely could not be in sympathy with this
barbarous procedure.

"You don't understand, Lieutenant," said Gale, in a low voice. "This
nigger is a THIEF!"

"You can't kill a man for stealing a few hams."

"It ain't so much WHAT he stole; it's the idea, and it's the custom of
the country."

"Whipping is enough, without the other."

"Dis stealin' she's bad biznesse," declared Poleon. "Mebbe dose ham is
save some poor feller's life."

"It's mob law," said the Lieutenant, indignantly, "and I won't stand
for it."

Gale turned a look of curiosity upon the officer. "How are you going to
help yourself?" said he; but the young man did not wait to reply.
Quickly he elbowed his way towards the centre of the scene with that
air of authority and determination before which a crowd melts and men
stand aside. Gale whispered to his companion:

"Keep your eye open, lad. There's going t