and they ain't going to stand for a real out-and-out band of
highwaymen such as used to levy on stage-coaches and wagon-trains
without exciting no more remarks than the buffaloes. You may be
sorry times is changed; so am I; but if times IS fresh, we might as
well look 'em in the face. Us fellows has been operating for some
years, but whatever we do is blamed on the Indians. That there is
a secret that would ruin our business, if it got out. Tomorrow, a
gang of white men will be depredating in the Washita country to get
revenge for today's massacre, and me and my men couldn't join in the
fun with easy consciences if we knowed you was somewheres loose, to
tell your story."

Again Gledware protested that he would never betray the band.

"Oh, cut this short," interposed Kansas Kimball, with an oath.
"Daylight will catch us and nothing done, if we listen to that
white-livered spy. We don't believe in that wagon he talks about,
and as for this kid, he brought her along just to save his bacon."

"No, as God lives!" cried Gledware. "Can't you see she is dead for
sleep? She was terrified out of her wits all day, and I've ridden
with her all night. Don't kill her, men--" He turned impassioned
eyes on the leader. "Look at her--so young--so unsuspecting-- you
can't have the heart to murder a child like that in cold blood."

"Right you are!" exclaimed the man with the ferocious whiskers--he
who had been spoken of as Brick Willock. "You'll have to go, pard,
but I'm against killing infants."

The leader darted an angry glance at the man who, but for the