"Why didn't you shoot the scoundrel!" Past the men he rushed with a
knife, and Old Jasper, leaping in the air, struck him in the face with
his iron fist and he lay senseless and bleeding on the ground.
One of the deputies threw up his gun to shoot, but the officer in
command seized the weapon and wrested it from his hands.
"You wolf, would you shoot a brave old man? He respects the law more
than you--and a hundred per cent. more than this villain. I wish he had
broken his neck. Here, Nick," he added, speaking to his other attendant,
"go up the hill to where Pagett has the wagon, bring it here and take
this half-dead hulk to his home. Then drive over to Starbuck's, and I
will be there with the prisoner. You go with me," he continued, speaking
to the deputy whom he had disarmed. "Here, take your gun and remember
that Uncle Sam isn't a murderer. Bring the hand-cuffs."
Old Starbuck's face broke into many a seam and then grew tight.
"Mister," he pleaded, "as an old soldier let me beg of you not to put
them criminal things on me.
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