Part 23 (1/2)

There was a suppressed buzz of excitement, while Redbeard stood glaring beneath the lamp, and the next man was led in.

”Now, sir, you are not sworn,” said the judge, ”but consider that you are on your oath. It is a matter perhaps of life or death. Answer my questions. You and your friends came here to find gold?”

”That's so, jedge.”

”Where did you come from?”

”Me and my mates? Noo York.”

”That will do. Silence!” cried the judge. ”The next man. Keep those two well apart.”

The third man was led in, and the same questions asked him, when to the second he responded sharply:

”Chicago.”

There was a roar at this, but the judge held up his hand. ”Silence, gentlemen, please, while I deliver judgment'” and a deep silence fell, while the three men glared meaningly one at the other. ”I have given this a perfectly fair hearing, and I say--”

_Crash_!

The s.h.i.+vering of a lamp-gla.s.s, a burst of flame like a flash of lightning, as the lamp was dashed from where it hung; and then for a few moments intense darkness, while there was a sudden roar and rush for the entrance.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

TO SAVE A SNARLING CUR.

The struggle was short, for the sides of the canvas building were frail; and as the flames ran swiftly up one side and the burning rags of the canvas roof began to fall upon the struggling crowd, a wave rushed against the opposite side, which gave way like so much paper, and the panting, half-stifled sufferers gained the cool fresh night air.

”Any one left within?” panted the judge; but the silence which followed was enough to indicate that all had escaped.

”Where are the other prisoners?”

”We are here--my cousin and I,” cried Abel, for they had made no attempt to escape.

”And the witnesses?” cried the judge. ”I have the scoundrel who dashed down the lamp.”

”We have the other two here,” replied voices.

”Then, gentlemen,” said the judge, ”I think we had better have another trial in the open air. What do you say to that as an attempt at wholesale murder? Come and help me here, some of you. I've got the big man down, but he's as strong as a horse. I couldn't have held him if I hadn't thrown a biscuit-bag over his head.”

It was light for a few minutes while the canvas roof of the saloon burned; but as the woodwork was rapidly torn down and trampled out to save the so-called hotel, all was dark again, with a pungent smoke arising.

Two men were dragged into the circle which had formed round the judge, whose figure could be just made out as he kneeled between the shoulders of the man he had down; and Dallas and Abel stood close by, fascinated as it were, and feeling a thrill of horror as they thought of their enemies' impending fate.

”It's horrible, Dal,” whispered Abel. ”I hate the brute, but I don't want to see him hanged.”

”Then you'd better be off,” said a man who heard the remark, ”for the beast will swing before many minutes are pa.s.sed.”

”I don't see why you two young fellows should care,” said another. ”He was eager enough to get you hanged.”

”Have you made his wrists fast behind him?” said the judge out of the darkness.