When the drinks had been served, Slocum hopped to the top of the sloppy bar, posing again oratorically, with one hand waving and the other under his coat tails. “And now, feller citerzens,” he cried, his face beaming with joy and drink, “we’ll give three cheers for our esteemed feller citerzen, Nate Rainey--the man who is to be Judge Lynch hereafter in this young and enterprisin’ town, and is ter deal out jestice to all who deserve it, and give the rope to every man who is doin’ sich things as we know that Buffalo Bill has done. And now three cheers fer him, sizzlin’ hot an’ rip-roarin’.” They gave the three cheers with such will and vim, and stamped the floor so hard, that several bottles were shaken from their positions behind the bar and fell crashing to the floor, the liquor running out. Bug-eye Slocum looked longingly at that flowing liquor; but yelled in an abashed voice as he saw two or three men throw themselves flat down on the floor and begin to lick it up: “Sam Wagner there, ain’t you ashamed o’ yerself; and ain’t you ashamed o’ yerself, Foxfire Bascomb, to be actin’ in that way, lickin’ likker frum the floor, as if you was dogs er cats, and the likker was milk?” “Oh, if they’re so desert dry as that,” said Rainey, “I’ll set ’em up ag’in.” He was mightily pleased with the uproarious cheers which had been given him. Then there was more drinking, and more talk about Buffalo Bill’s Border Ruffians. After that the vigilantes were appointed, a dozen men, with Rainey as judge; and they were to try Buffalo Bill as soon as he fell into their hands, and then hang him. The “trial” would not be much; for, even before his capture, Buffalo Bill was thus adjudged guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. But Bug-eye Slocum and Nate Rainey had accomplished their purpose. This vigilantes band could be used not only against Buffalo Bill, but against the enemies of Slocum and Rainey as well. Thereafter, if a man gained their ill will, the only thing necessary to get him out of the way would be to accuse him of some crime before this court of Judge Lynch, support the accusation with false testimony, and forthwith the man would be swung on high at the end of a rope and promptly choked to death. It was almost as quick work as ordinary murder, and much safer for the murderers; for they could always show that they were acting for the good of the community. When the vigilantes had been chosen, of men selected beforehand by Slocum and Rainey, there were again drinks all round; and then the meeting broke up, and the half drunken and excited crowd flowed out into the street in front of the Flash Light. CHAPTER XXXIII. A KINDLY WARNING. In spite of his repeated potations, Slocum walked as straight as he had ever walked in his life, as he took his way along the street to Hargous’ livery stable, where he kept a shaggy Indian pony, noted for its fleetness and untiring endurance.