Chapter 84

           "Triedto-morrow—to-morrow,thankGod!Notlikelythatanybody’llcatchthatcursedthingbeforethen—tobehoped,never.

           "ItisallI’vegottofear.Idefythemtotellwhat’shappenedwithoutthat.HangmeifIknowmyself!Enoughonlyto—.

           "Queer,thecomingofthisIrishpettifogger!

           "Queer,too,thefellowfromSanAntonio!Wonderwhoandwhat’sbroughthim?Somebody’spromisedhimhiscosts?

           "Damn’em!Idon’tcare,notthevalueofaredcent.Theycanmakenothingoutofit,butthatGeralddidthedeed.Everythingpointsthatway;andeverybodythinksso.They’reboundtoconvicthim.

           "ZebStumpdon’tthinkit,thesuspiciousoldsnake!He’snowheretobefound.Wonderwherehehasgone?Onahunt,theysay.’Tain’tlikely,suchtimeasthis.Whatifhebehuntingit?Whatifheshouldcatchit?

           "I’dtryagainmyself,iftherewastime.Thereain’t.Beforeto-morrownightit’llbeallover;andafterwardsifthereshouldturnup—.Damnafterwards!Thethingistomakesurenow.Letthefuturelooktoitself.Withonemanhungforthemurder,’tain’tlikelythey’dcaretoaccuseanother.Evenifsomethingsuspiciousdidturnup!they’dbeshytotakeholdofit.Itwouldbelikecondemningthemselves!

           "Ireckon,I’vegotallrightwiththeRegulators.SamManleyhimselfappearsprettywellconvinced.Iknockedhisdoubtsuponthehead,whenItoldhimwhatI’dheardthatnight.AlittlemorethanIdidhear;thoughthatwasenoughtomakeamanstark,staringmad.