Inwood answered in the affirmative, and then concluded that it was about time he asked a few questions.
But Mr. Muffin was too sharp to be taken off his guard, and, with a meaning smile upon his evil countenance, he said:
“The nearest I’ve got, I believe, are a couple of brothers in Sacramento City.”
“I have done so for nigh onto five years--not quite that, howsumever.”
“That is a singular way of managing one’s affairs. A man isn’t apt to act in that manner unless he has a strong motive for doing so.”
“What might be a chap’s motives?” demanded the other, removing his pipe and glaring upon the speaker with an ugly look.
“Sometimes a man has a natural taste for solitude, but it more generally happens that he leaves society for society’s own good.”
“Do you mean to ’sinuate that that’s what I’ve done?”
“I don’t insinuate anything, because I know nothing about you; but I strongly suspect that you are some scamp who dare not return to the society of your people on account of the crimes you have committed against them.”
Mr. Muffin looked very angry, and Jim had strong hopes that he would say or attempt something bad, for he was eager to lay his hands upon him; but their visitor evidently concluded it unsafe to let his angry passions rise just then, and so he held his peace, and smoked his pipe harder than ever.
“When a man addresses me as I have addressed you,” said Inwood, “I quietly leave his company, and have nothing more to do with him.”
“Dat so,” added Jim, beginning to lose all patience at the impudence of their visitor. “If you know what’s best for yourself you’ll _cl’ar out_.”
Mr. Muffin smoked in silence a few moments longer, and then rose to his feet. Glaring first at Inwood, and then at Jim, he shook his fist at each, and said:
“I’ll go, but you’ll hear from me before long. _You haven’t seen the last of me._”
And the next moment he strode off in the darkness.
The miners waited until they were sure of being alone, when George said:
“I am sorry we saw anything of that man--he has had his eyes on our gold, and has made up his mind to have it.”
“Yes; I’m sorry you told him about it,” gravely remarked Jim.
“I think _you_ were the first to give him the hint.”
“How dat?” inquired the African, with profound amazement.