“One mile move, an’ then--thunder an’ guns! just as I expected!” cried old Jack Drivewell.
Before him, in the middle of the narrow road, stood what seemed to be an equestrian statue.
To the driver, horse and rider wore gigantic proportions, which were rendered more than half ghostly by the prevailing shadows.
“He looks like Tom Terror himself; but--”
Quickly upward shot the right arm of the spectre. Old Jack saw the deadly revolver clutched in the giant’s hand.
He had moved nearer--he might have touched the lead horse with the muzzle of his revolver.
“Wal, I don’t know,” drawled Jack. “Fellars what ain’t wanted ginerally come home.”
Old Jack thought he saw a smile at the corners of the Gulch Tiger’s mouth.
A moment’s silence followed. Jack saw the horseman’s eyes wander to the stage.
“Yes; thunderin’ poor trip; this road’s got unpopular o’ late. Do THEY know you’re back?”
Jack, startled by these ominous words, felt a cold thrill shoot through his veins.
“Jack--old Jack it used to be, while we sifted an’ panned on Feather River--why ar’ you drivin’ stage when thar’s a gold-mine at yer feet?”
“A gold-mine!” echoed the driver, dazedly.
“Sartainly, an’ one that beats the Emma King all holler.”
“No. I want to see you git into better business than ridin’ over four wheels at eighty dollars a month. Jack, you’re out o’ yer sphere up thar. I say come down an’ work the mine that lies at yer feet.”
Jack began to catch the import of Tom’s words.
“Ef we work it right we can buy all the mines in this great kentry.”
“I thought you would be. But what will we do with the stage an’ yer sleepy passenger?”
“Oh, that’s easy. I’ll wake ’im up, an’ tell ’im that I’ve left the business. He kin drive the hosses through to Custer.”
“He is the very man I want,” he said, looking at the old stage-driver.
Jack, springing agilely over the horse, struck the ground, and turned toward the stage.
As the air was bracing, but not cold; the stage was open, and Jack, leaping upon the hub of the left fore wheel, was about to thrust his bronzed face inside when he sprung back with a cry of surprise.
He saw two revolvers thrust from the window, and between them appeared a face illumined by a smile of triumph. But the eye glittered like a snake’s; they seemed full of death.