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Updated: May 11, 2025
He did not enter Perdue's store as was his wont, but made straight for his own log house beyond. A miserable, half-starved cur was lying at the door. Giving the animal a brutal kick, which sent it howling away, Pritchen entered the building. Throwing his snow-shoes into one corner and the rifle with the ptarmigan on a pile of rugs, he sat down upon a small stool.
Was there not some good reason for Brisko's aversion to this man? Had he seen him before? If so, where? Why that look of surprise and fear upon Pritchen's face? Could it be possible that this was the very one, the "Bill," whom that dying man in the Ibex cabin mentioned? Lost in thought, he did not realize that he was staring hard at Pritchen, as if he could read his very soul.
"There," and Keith pointed to a corner of the room. At first an attempt was made to pry up the cover, by forcing the axe under the edge, but in this they failed. "Let's smash the d thing!" cried Pritchen. "We can't waste the whole night here, and we must see into this box." Suiting the action to the word, he drove the blade into the smooth lid, and in a short time the cover was in splinters.
"Tell me!" he cried, "is it true? Is it true what ye say about the missionary? Is the skunk among us what done that deed? Tell me, quick!" "Over there," replied Amos, pointing to the wretched Pritchen. "It's a lie! A d lie, I tell you!" shouted the latter. "I know nothing about it! The Injun hates me, and wants to ruin me. Let them prove it, if they can! They can't do it!"
"Whar did ye fust see 'im?" "Heem bad man; bad heart. Heem keel my modder long tam ago." "It's a lie!" shouted Pritchen. "Jennie no lie. Me see 'um." A movement among the miners was quieted by Pete's next question. "Gal, did ye see that man put the bags of gold in the missionary's cabin? Tell me that." "Yes. Me see 'um." "How did you see 'im do it?" "Jennie see in windee. Heem look all around.
Pritchen made a pretence at remonstrating, but the words were drowned in the noise of the miners, who stamped, clapped, and shouted until the clamour was deafening. "All right, then," he replied, when the tumult had subsided. "If you are as determined as that, I suppose I must act. Let us now get to work," he concluded, stepping down from the bench.
During this performance the miners had remained stolidly silent, and when they beheld the tables turned upon Pritchen smiles of satisfaction flitted across their faces. They had little use for the big, blustering bully. He was not one of them, anyway, only an intruder, and whence he came or what his business no one seemed to know.
"But how did the chief get this picture?" The old woman looked at her silently for a while, as if collecting her thoughts. Then, in broken English, she told her tale of the mean trick which had been imposed upon them. So vivid was the description that Constance knew it could be Pritchen and no one else.
Refer to her again as you did lately, and you'll see how interested I am." The tone in Keith's voice warned Pritchen and the rest that the less said about the matter the better, so an awkward pause ensued. Perdue was the first to speak. "Let's search the mission house now," he suggested, "and leave the Radhurst cabin till the last."
Wrapped in her old shawl, she crouched on the floor, taking no part in the rough-and-tumble fight. Her eyes were constantly fixed upon Pritchen with a strange fascination, which seemed never to waver. Once, when he sprang at Amos, she half started from her place, moved by some sudden impulse. But it was only for an instant, and then she shrank back to her former position.
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