"Poor kid!" he interrupted, tenderly. "You've had so much to bear! ...
Joan, I fooled Kells. Oh, I was slick! ... He ordered me out on
a job--to kill a miner! Fancy that! And what do you think? I know
Creede well. He's a good fellow. I traded my big nugget for his
gold-belt!"

"You TRADED--you--didn't--kill him!" faltered Joan.

"Hear the child talk!" exclaimed Cleve, with a low laugh.

Joan suddenly clung to him with all her might, quivering in a silent
joy. It had not occurred to Jim what she might have thought.

"Listen," he went on. "I traded my nugget. It was worth a great deal
more than Creede's gold-belt. He knew this. He didn't want to trade.
But I coaxed him. I persuaded him to leave camp--to walk out on the
road to Bannack. To meet the stage somewhere and go on to Bannack,
and stay a few days. He sure was curious. But I kept my secret. ...
Then I came back here, gave the belt to Kells, told him I had
followed Creede in the dark, had killed him and slid him into a deep
hole in the creek. ... Kells and Pearce--none of them paid any
attention to my story. I had the gold-belt. That was enough. Gold
talks--fills the ears of these bandits. ... I have my share of
Creede's gold-dust in my pocket. Isn't that funny? Alas for my--YOUR
big nugget! But we've got to play the game. Besides, I've sacks and
cans of gold hidden away. Joan, what'll we do with it all? You're my
wife now. And, oh! If we can only get away with it you'll be rich!"