And I'll be hanged if
I don't think we were both right."
CHAPTER IV
A Council of War
Six days had elapsed. It was evening, and in the large room over
Haggerty's store at Moore's Flat the lamps had been lighted. Here ten
members of the Keystone Club had gathered to see if something might not
be done to avenge the death of Cummins. Henry Francis presided; but the
meeting was informal. These men had not met to pass resolutions, but to
decide upon some line of action. So far not a trace of the murderers had
been found, except for their discarded clothing. Sheriff Carter's
blood-hounds had followed a hot scent to Deer Creek, several miles above
Nevada City, and the posse who followed the dogs were led to a pool, in
the bottom of which, weighted with stones, was the clothing. Further
than this the dogs could not go. They were soon sneezing as the result
of inhaling red pepper, scattered on the rocks. And the robbers had
probably waded up or down stream to insure complete safety.
Several suspicious characters had passed over the railroad to Sacramento
and San Francisco; but this was an every-day occurrence, and the police
had learned the futility of arresting men who were probably innocent
miners pursuing the gay life.
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