others had grabbed me, and this man Swift pulled a knife. I remember
one of them saying: 'Don't shoot--it'll bring the whole town out!'
And just as this one raised his knife to drive it into my throat--they
were bending me backwards, the other two--I heard a shot, and this one
dropped his knife and gave a yell. There were two other shots, and
the two who were holding me dropped. This one ran off. Then--" The boy
turned and looked down at Jack, smoking his cigarette and trying to
read what lay behind the stolid stare of the twelve men who sat in
a solemn row on the bunks opposite him. "This young man--" His lips
trembled, and he stopped, to bite them into a more manlike firmness.

"Gentlemen, do what you like with me, but you've got to let this man
go! He's the coolest, bravest man I ever saw! He saved my life. You
can't hang him for protecting a man from murder and robbery!"

"Young man," interrupted the Captain after a surprised silence, "we
admire your generosity in trying to clear your fellow prisoner, but
you must let this jury try his case. What's your name?"

"John Belden, of Cambridge, Massachusetts." The young fellow's rage
faded to a sullen calm under the cold voice.

The Captain made a startled movement and looked at him sharply. "And
what was your hurry to get to town?" he asked, after a minute.

"I wanted to get a ticket on the boat, the _Mary Elizabeth_, that is
going to leave for New York to-morrow. I wanted to go--home. I've had
enough of gold-hunting!" Youthful bitterness was in his tone and in
the look he turned on the jury.