"You're a fool!" hissed Duff.

"And you're a gambler," Tom shot back. "If you won't change your trade,
why should you expect me to change mine?"

"I reckon, gentlemen," said Duff, turning to the others present, "that
there's no use in wasting any more time with this fellow. He'd rather
be hanged to a tree than take good advice. If the rest of you agree
with me, I propose that we take the cub to his tree at once."

Several spoke in favor of this plan. Tom, seeing this, felt his heart
sink somewhat within him, though he was no more inclined than before to
accede to the demands of the rascals.

"Grab him! Throw him down; tie and gag him," were the gambler's orders.

Two men nearest the young engineer sprang at him.

"We'll play this game right through to the finish, then!" burst from
Tom's lips, and there was something like fury in his voice.

Biff! Thump!

Two of the townsmen of Paloma, wholly unprepared for resistance, went
down before the engineer's telling blows.

"Your turn, Duff!" rumbled Reade's voice, as he sprang forward and
launched a terrific blow at the gambler.

Duff went down, almost doubling up as he struck. He had been hit