Pagina 423 de 439

"I didn't go for to kill him," he whimpered, now thoroughly

frightened at what he had done. "You both saw it, gentlemen. You

did, lieutenant. So did you, Sig. It was self-defense. He drew on

me. I didn't go to do it."

Fraser was examining the dead man's wounds. He looked up, and

said to his friend: "Nothing to do for him, Sig. He's gone."

"I tell you, I didn't mean to do it," pleaded Struve. "Why,

lieutenant, that man has been trying to get me to ambush you for

weeks. I'll swear it." The convict was in a panic of terror,

ready to curry favor with the man whom he held his deadliest

enemy. "Yes, lieutenant, ever since you came here. He's been

egging me on to kill you."

"And you tried it three times?"

"No, sir." He pointed vindictively at the dead man, lying face up

on the floor. "It was him that ambushed you this morning. I

hadn't a thing to do with it."

"Don't lie, you coward."

They carried the body to the next room and put it on a bed.

Tommie was dispatched on a fast horse for help.