He arose to his knees, to his feet, swaying slightly, one hand pressed against his head as he stared blankly into the faces of the two men.
"W-which way d-did he go ?" he asked, almost stupidly.

"Th-the feller w-who told 'em ter f-f-fire ?" Old Hicks, his eyes filled with misery, shook his head.
"Back ter the 'Independence,' I reckon," he admitted.

"Most o' 'em I saw started that way." Brown roughly jerked his gun from out its holster, holding the shining weapon up into the starlight.
"No, he didn't; not that one," he growled fiercely, his glance falling again upon the upturned features of the dead girl.

"I saw him out thar runnin' toward our shaft-hole; h-he's up t-ter more d-deviltry.

Y-you take k-keer o' her." His voice broke, then rang out strong.