When all was ready, the world famous desperado, masquerading as Tom Howard, mine owner, reached out his right hand and lifted a ladle full of the redolent tar from the cauldron. Barely melted, it was not hot enough to more than sting as it touched the skin. But as Fred saw the black liquid thrust toward his shirt whose collar Clell held open, his terror lent him the strength of a wild man. Twisting and squirming, he made a grab for Jesse's beard. With a furious oath, the great outlaw let go the lad's collar and struck him a blow in the face that sent him sprawling into the embers of the fire beneath the kettle. A gasp of dismay broke from the crowd. But in a trice Jesse had his victim out of the coals and again brought the ladle to his neck. Fearing a repetition of his struggle, Frank held him tight. Quickly the bandit-chieftain poured the molten tar inside his clothes, repeating the movement three times. Yelling at the top of his lungs, Consollas writhed. "Close his mouth with feathers, then jam some down into the tar," snapped Jesse. Quickly, Clell obeyed. Fred's contortions redoubled. The soft fluffy things got down his throat and he spluttered frantically. Again was the ladle thrust into the cauldron and the contents thrown on his clothes. The writhings of the luckless youth amused the crowd and they howled and chuckled with glee. "Duck him in the kettle," cried a score of voices. Acting on the suggestion, the famous desperado lifted his victim from the ground and doused him in the tar. But as he was thrust down into the cauldron, Consollas made a ferocious grab for his tormentor. And this time his fingers clutched the hair in Jesse's false beard. Releasing his hold of his coat, the bandit-chieftain seized his wrists in such a terrible grip, boring his spike like thumbs between the cords, that the lad let go with a shriek of agony. The wires by which the whiskers were attached had held yet the sudden yank had drawn the beard from Jesse's face for an instant before he could bend forward and end the strain. "A--ha!" exclaimed a voice, amazed and gloating, behind him. Only Frank and Clell were close to him and the ejaculation made Jesse start. With a suppressed oath, he whirled to see who had uttered it. But no one was in sight. Yet had the outlaws rushed into the bushes, they would have seen young Rozier stealthily working his way through them till he reached the spot where he had left his pony, then hastily untie it, mount and dash away for the Springs. CHAPTER V. GATHERING CLOUDS. More wrought up by the incident than he cared to let even Frank and Clell see, Jesse cursed savagely to himself as he turned his attention again to his victim in the tar kettle. The buzz that rose from the assemblage told him that the men and women were aware that something had happened though their ignorance of exactly what was disclosed by cries of "Did he hurt you? Did he knife you?" that came from all directions.