"That man's a rascal, if looks mean anything."
"I'll tell you what he reminds me of, Jake. Did you ever read '
Oliver Twist'?"
"All of a Twist? That's a queer name. What is it?"
"It's a story by Dickens. He describes a brutal villain, named Bill
Sykes, who murders his wife."
"This chap looks as if he wouldn't mind doing it. His wife's afraid
of him, though half an hour ago I would have said she wasn't afraid
of anything."
"That's so. They seem pretty well matched."
Presently the master of the cabin came out. It was not easy for his
harsh features to look amiable, but his manner was no longer
offensive. He even seemed inclined to be social.
"Traveled fur to-day?" he inquired.
"About thirty miles, as near as I can guess," said Bradley.
"Is that your boy?"
"No, he's no kin to me. We're travelin' together-that's all."
"Goin' to the mines?"
"We are goin' to Murphy's."
"Come from 'Frisco?"
"Yes."
The proprietor of the cabin at this reply fixed his eyes
reflectively upon Ben and his companion.
"I'd like to know what he's thinkin' about," said Bradley to
himself. "Somehow I mistrust him. A man with that face can't help
bein' a scoundrel.
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