Holley appeared suddenly interested.
Creech alone showed no surprise.
"But Sears is dead," added Bostil.
"He was dead--we thought," replied Brackton, with a grim laugh.

"But he's alive again.

He told me he'd been in Idaho fer two years, in the gold-fields.

Said the work was too hard, so he'd come back here.
Laughed when he said it, the little devil! I'll bet he was thinkin' of thet wagon-train of mine he stole." Bostil gazed at his chief rider.
"Wal, I reckon we didn't kill Sears, after all," replied Holley.

"I wasn't never sure." "Lord! Cordts an' Sears in camp," ejaculated Bostil, and he began to pace the room.
"No, they're gone now," said Brackton.
"Take it easy, boss.