They meant him no good--it was easy to see that." "Were these men Americans--Californians ?" "Well, I don't know about Californians.

They were Americans, all right.
But they were not miners.

I don't know what they were, and was very glad to see their backs." "That was six years ago ?" "Nearer seven." "And then you were together five years in California, so that this business dates back not less than eleven years at the least ?" "That is so." "It must be a very serious feud that would be kept up with such earnestness for as long as that.

It would be no light thing that would give rise to it." "I think it shadowed his whole life.

It was never quite out of his mind." "But if a man had a danger hanging over him, and knew what it was, don't you think he would turn to the police for protection ?" "Maybe it was some danger that he could not be protected against.
There's one thing you should know.