"Well, you ain't dead--an' you be here. An' if you don't go the limit with me, yer goin' to wish a thousan' times more that you was a damn sight deader than you ever will be! You know what I mean! An' you ain't a damn bit better than what I be, either! If you was you wouldn't of left yer man an' pulled out with Tex. I've got yer number, so you might's well throw in with me an' save yerself a whole lot of hell. I've got more'n what Tex has, anyhow--an' there's plenty more where I git mine. You might's well know it now, as later--I'm an outlaw! I was outlawed on account of you--an' it ain't no more'n right you should share it with me. I've worked on horses up to now, but I'm a-goin' to branch out! Banks an' railroad trains looks better to me! The name of Purdy's goin' to be a big name in these parts--an' then all to onct it won't be heard no more--an' you an' me'll be down in South America rollin' 'em high!" The man's voice had raised with his boasting, and as he finished, he pounded his chest with his fist. During his speech the girl's heart shrivelled within her until it touched the lowest depths of terror and despair. She cowered against the horse, pressing her knuckles into her lips till the blood came--and, suddenly, as he finished, she felt an insane desire to laugh. And she did laugh, loudly and unnaturally--laughed and pointed a shaking forefinger into the man's face: "You fool!" she screamed, hysterically, "_you fool!_ I'm not afraid of you! You're not real! You can't be real! You remind me of comic opera!" For a moment the man stared in surprise, and then, with an oath he grasped her roughly by the arm: "What are you laughin' at? I'm a fool, be I? I ain't real? When I git through with you, you'll think I'm real enough! An' I won't put you in mind of no comical opry neither! But, first, I'm goin' to collect that reward." "Reward?" "Yes--reward," snarled the man, releasing her arm with a violent push that whirled her half way around. Fumbling in his pocket he produced one of the hand-bills that Long Bill had given him. "There it is--the reward yer man stuck up for you--though what in hell he wants of you now is more'n I know. It only says a thousan' there--but I raised it to five. I'll jest hold you safe till I git my mitts on that five thousan', an' then----" "You'll hold me safe till you get the money?" asked the girl, a gleam of hope lighting her eyes, "and then you'll turn me over to my husband? Is that all you want--the money--five thousand dollars?"