When morning came we tried him, I being judge. He was found
guilty, and sentenced to be hung. The sentence was carried into
effect in the afternoon. He won't steal any more, I reckon."
Ben took another hasty look at the dangling criminal whose end had
been so sudden and horrible, and he shuddered.
"Why don't you take him down?" he asked.
"It was ordered that he hang for twenty-four hours, as a warning to
any others in camp who might be tempted to steal. The time isn't up
yet.
"You are a young gold-hunter," said Hunter, scanning over hero's
youthful face.
"Yes, I am," Ben confessed; "but I had to earn a living, and I
thought I could do it better here than at home."
"Are you from the East?"
"I am from Hampton, in New York State."
"I know something of Hampton," said Hunter. "I have never been
there; but I have a distant relative living there."
"Who is it?" asked Ben, with interest. "I know everybody there."
"I dare say you know my relative, for I am given to understand that
he is the great man of Hampton."
"Mayor Sturgis?"
"Yes, that is his name. He married a cousin of my mother, so the
relationship is not very close. He is rich, isn't he?"
"He is the richest man in Hampton.
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