on the part of this man of bristling whiskers, this knave whose
voice was ever for mercy, if mercy were possible. Why should
Willock have joined men who were without scruple and without shame?
As the leader stared at him sullenly, he reflected that it was just
such natures that fail at the last extremity of hardihood, that
desert comrades in crime, that turn state's evidence. Yes--Willock
would deal the blow, even if Red found it necessary to call all his
men from the cabin to enforce the order.

The captain's fears were not groundless. He would have been much
more alarmed, could he have known the wonderful thoughts that surged
through Willock's brain, and the wonderful emotions that thrilled
his heart, at the warm confiding pressure of the arm about his neck.



CHAPTER II
BRICK MAKES A MOVE


As Kansas Kimball raised his weapon to fire, the man before him
uttered a cry of terror and began to entreat for his life. In the
full light of the dazzling moon, his face showed all the pallor,
all the contortions of a coward who, though believing himself lost,
has not the resolution to mask his fear. He poured forth incoherent
promises of secrecy, ejaculations of despair and frenzied assurances
of innocence.

"Hold on, Kansas!" interposed Red. "There's not a one of the bunch
believes that story about the last wagon getting away, and the dying