Now, thought I, is the time to do my work.

So, walking through the crowd, who were bidding for the mule, I approached the man who had offered him for sale.

He recognized me and endeavored to escape, but I seized him by the shoulder, saying: "I guess, my friend, that you'll have to go with me.

If you make any resistance, I'll shoot you on the spot." He was armed with a pair of pistols, which I took away from him.

Then informing the auctioneer that I was a United States detective, and showing him--as well as an inquisitive officer--my commission as such, I told him to stop the sale, as the mule was stolen property, and that I had arrested the thief, whose name was Williams.
Farley and Green, who were near at hand, now came forward, and together we took the prisoner and the mules three miles down the Platte River; there, in a thick bunch of timber, we all dismounted and made preparations to hang Williams from a limb, if he did not tell us where his partner was.