"I can certainly testify to the fact that this man Bradling did attempt
to shoot the man whom you call Dick, but I know nothing about the murder
which seems to have been perpetrated here, and--"
"It's a young feller as was a quiet harmless sort o' critter," said one
of the bystanders, "who was found dead under a bush this morning with
his skull smashed in; and it's my opinion, gentlemen, that, since this
stranger has sworn to the fact that Bradling tried to murder Dick, he
should swing for it."
"I protest, gentlemen," said Frank energetically, "that I did not
_swear_ at all! I did not even _say_ that Bradling tried to murder
anybody: on the contrary, I think the way in which the man Dick handled
his gun at the time when Bradling fired was very susp--"
A shout from the crowd drowned the remainder of this speech.
"String him up without more ado," cried several voices.
Three men at once seized Bradling, and a rope was quickly flung over the
bough of the oak.
"Mercy! mercy!" cried the unhappy man, "I swear that I did not murder
the man. I have made my pile down at Bigbear Gully, and I'll give it
all--every cent--if you will wait to have the matter examined. Stay,"
he added, seeing that they paid no heed to him, "let me speak one word,
before I die, with Mr Allfrey. I want to tell him where my gold lies
hid."
"It's a dodge," cried one of the executioners with a sneer, "but have
your say out. It's the last you'll have a chance to say here, so look
sharp about it."
Frank went forward to the man, who was trembling, and very pale, and
begged those who held him to move off a few paces.
"Oh! Mr Allfrey," said Bradling, "I am innocent of this; I _am_ an
escaped convict, it is true, and I _did_ try to kill that man Dick, who
has given me provocation enough, God knows, but, as He shall be my judge
at last, I swear I did not commit _this_ murder. If you will cut the
cords that bind my hands, you will prevent a cold-blooded murder being
committed now. You saved my life once before. Oh! save it again."
The man said all this in a hurried whisper, but there was something so
intensely earnest and truthful in his bearing that Frank, under a sudden
and irresistible impulse, which he could not afterwards account for,
drew his knife and cut the cords that bound him.
Instantly Bradling bounded away like a hunted deer, overturning several
men in his flight, and being followed by a perfect storm of bullets from
rifles and revolvers, until he had disappeared in the neighbouring wood.
Then the miners turned with fury on Frank, but paused abruptly on
seeing that he and Joe Graddy stood back to back, with a revolver in
each hand.
Of course revolvers and rifles were instantly pointed at them, but
fortunately the miners in their exasperation had discharged all their
fire-arms at Bradling--not a piece remained loaded!
Several therefore commenced hurriedly to re-load, but Frank shouted, in
a voice that there was no misunderstanding--
"The first who attempts to load is a dead man!"
This caused them to hesitate, for in those times men, when desperate,
were wont to be more prompt to act than to threaten. Still, there were
some present who would have run the risk, and it is certain that our
hero and his friend would have then and there terminated their career,
had not a backwoods hunter stepped forward and said:
"Well now, ye air makin' a pretty noise 'bout nothin'! See here, I know
that feller Bradling well. _He_ didn't kill the man. It was a Redskin
as did it; I came up in time to see him do it, and killed the Redskin
afore he could get away. In proof whereof here is his gun, an' you'll
find his carcase under the bank where the murder was committed, if ye've
a mind to look for it. But Bradling _is_ a murderer. I knows him of
old, an' so, although he's innocent of this partikler murder, I didn't
see no occasion to try to prevent him gittin' his desarts. It's another
matter, hows'ever, when you're goin' to scrag the men as let him off.
If ye'll take the advice of an old hunter as knows a thing or two,
you'll go to work on yer claims slick off, for the rains are comin' on,
and they will pull ye up sharp, I guess. You'll make hay while the sun
shines if you're wise."
The opportune interference of this hunter saved Frank and Joe, who,
after thanking their deliverer, were not slow to mount their mules and
hasten back to Bigbear Gully, resolved more firmly than ever to wind up
their affairs, and bid a final adieu to the diggings.