Johnson stopped his pacing. "I fancy Coleman will have to answer that question. Our cue is to wait." "'He also serves who stands and waits'," quoted Howard sardonically. There came a knock at the door. Van Ness, arising quickly, answered it. A uniformed page stood on the threshold bearing a silver platter on which reposed two letters. Something about the incident again aroused Howard's sense of humor. "Like a play," he muttered. "'My Lord, the carriage waits.'" With an exclamation of annoyance the Governor stepped forward, took the two envelopes, displacing them with a bit of silver, and dismissed the boy. He opened both missives before examining either. Then he stood for a moment, a rectangle of paper in either hand, frowning. Van Ness, peering over the Governor's shoulder, read: We have given up hope for Mr. King's recovery. His death is a matter of days, perhaps hours. DR. HAMMOND. We beg to inform your Excellency that the Vigilance Committee's guard at the county jail has been withdrawn. 33, SECRETARY. CHAPTER XLV THE COMMITTEE STRIKES On Sunday morning, May 18th, all of San Francisco was astir at dawn. There was none of the usual late breakfasting, the leisurely perusal of a morning paper. In some mysterious fashion word had gone abroad that history would be made this morning. The odd and feverish expectancy which rides, an unseen herald in the van of large events, was everywhere. A part of this undue activity resulted from the summoning of male members out of nearly three thousand households for military duty to begin at 9 o'clock. Long before that hour the general headquarters of the Vigilantes swarmed with members. * * * * * As a neighboring clock struck noon, the Vigilantes debouched into the street, an advance guard of riders clearing that thoroughfare of crowding spectators. First came Captain James N. Olney commanding the Citizens' Guard of sixty picked men, so soldierly in appearance that their coming evoked a cheer. Company 11, officered by Captain Donnelly and Lieutenant Frank Eastman came next, and after them a company of French citizens, very straight and gallant in appearance; then a German company. Followed at precise and military intervals a score or more of companies, with their gleaming bayonets, each standing at attention until the entire host had been assembled. Now and then some bystander cried a greeting. On the roofs were now a fringe of colored parasols, a fluttering of handkerchiefs. One might have deemed it a parade save for a certain grimness, the absence of bands. There was a hush as Marshal Doane rode all along the line and paused at the head to review his troops. One could hear him clearly as he raised his sabre and commanded, "Forward, march!" At the sidelines the lieutenants chanted: "Hup! Hup! Hup-hup-hup!"