The other six were forced to run the gauntlet, very unwillingly indeed, for it consisted in crawling upon hands and knees between some thirty pairs of legs, and to receive, upon passing between each pair, a tremendous whack from the palm of the hand of the owner of said pair of legs. When the unfortunate members of the second team completed the running of the gauntlet not one of them complained of the cold. The heat created was perfectly sufficient to keep them warm all the way home. In fact it was far more penetrating than the soft warmth thrown off by the camp fire. "Now, skidoo!" yelled some fifty voices, and the six seconds each took a second in making their exit from the scene of the disaster. "I wonder what they can be going to do with us?" grinned McCabe, to Judd. "Say, ... do I look like a defeated general?" "Never give up the ship!" kidded Judd, then to the three fellows who were holding him down: "What's the idea of tyin' my feet?" "General's orders, sir, General's orders!" Benz strode up. "Escort or carry the prisoners down to the old bridge. Forward march, men!" It did not take long to reach the bridge. Bartz ran up to Benz. "What are you going to do?" he asked, suspiciously. "Surely you're not thinking of ducking 'em this time of year!" "No, ... only scare 'em! We'll hold 'em over the rail an' make believe we're going to drop 'em. Savvy?" "I getcha. I thought that's what you were up to all the time," apologized Bartz, then in a louder voice; "Which one first, general?" "Rube!" Benz shouted, sternly. "Here's where he shows the yellow streak," he said to himself. "Before all these fellows, too! ... Rube, you being the main offender, you must pay the penalty with your life. Carry him up to the rail, men!" The fellows obeyed, soberly. "You're not goin' to throw me in with my feet tied, are you?" asked Judd, calmly, without an effort to struggle. It was quite dark save for the reflection cast by the moon. "We sure are!" Benz winked at the crowd that stood just behind, watching proceedings. "Any word you wish to leave for friends or relatives? Any directions as to how you want your earthly goods disposed of?" "No, I reckon I'm ready to die now. The sooner the better," replied Judd, undaunted. Benz hesitated. His bluff was not having the desired effect. "Why don't he beg for mercy?" Benz asked himself. "Isn't that guy afraid of anything?" Then Benz did a daring thing. Without stopping to think of the consequences he seized Judd's shackled feet and lifted them over the low rail. A dozen hands assisted in hoisting Judd's big body up and over. Here was the critical moment. Would he beg now? If not, the fellows must pull him back and acknowledge that he was real stuff. "How about it, Rube?" asked Benz, watching Judd's face closely, as he helped hold him, suspended, over the river. Not a muscle in Judd's body so much as quivered.