ing, in whispers, a letter to some person.
Then he drank some brandy, and then some water; then he freely acquitted
the Judge of having ever fought any way but fairly. But still his mind
seemed burdened. Finally, in a very thin, weak voice, he stammered out:

"I don't want--to make--to make it uncomfortable--for--for any of--you
fellers, but--is ther' a--a preacher in the camp?"

The boys looked at each other inquiringly; men from every calling used
to go to the mines, and no one would have been surprised if a
backsliding priest, or even bishop, had stepped to the front. But none
appeared, and the wounded man, after looking despairingly from one to
another, gave a smothered cry.

"Oh, God, hez a miserable wretch got to cut hisself open, and then
flicker out, without anybody to say a prayer for him?"

The boys looked sorrowful--if gold-dust could have bought prayers, Billy
would have had a first-class assortment in an instant.

"There's Deacon Adams over to Pattin's," suggested a bystander; "an'
they do say he's a reg'lar rip-roarer at prayin'! But 'twould take four
hours to go and fetch him."

"Too long," said the Doctor.

"Down in Mexico, at the cathedral," said another, "they pray for a
feller after he's dead, when yer pay 'em fur it, an' they say it's jist
the thing--sure pop. I'll give yer my word, Billy, an' no go back, that
I'll see the job done up in style fur yer, ef that's any comfort."

"I want to hear it myself," groaned the sufferer; "I don't feel right;
can't nobody pray--nobody in the crowd?"

Again the boys looked inquiringly at each other, but this time it was a
little shyly. If he had asked for some one to go out and steal a mule,
or kill a bear, or gallop a buck-jumping mustang to 'Frisco, they would
have fought for the chance; but praying--praying was entirely out of
their line.

The silence became painful: soon slouched hats were hauled down over
moist eyes, and shirt-sleeves and bare arms seemed to find something
unusual to attend to in the boys' faces. Big Brooks commenced to blubber
aloud, and was led out by old Thompson, who wanted a chance to get out
of doors so he might break down in private. Finally matters were brought
to a crisis by Mose--no one knew his other name. Mose uncovered a sandy
head, face and beard, and remarked:

"I don't want to put on airs in this here crowd, but ef nobody else ken
say a word to the Lord about Billy Bent, I'm a-goin' to do it myself.
It's a bizness