"Two of these are momentums--no, mementos," said Charlie. "I've been spoiling the Egyptians. Spoiled some six or eight, I guess--and a couple more soured on the job. That'll keep. Tell you to-morrow. Let's go!" "Vait! Vait!" said Preisser. "Go by my place--I'll gome vith you so far--science shall aid your brude force. Perrault and me, you say, ve stay here. Ve are not vit to sed in der vorevront of battles--vat? Good! Then ve vill send to represend us my specimens. I haf two lufly specimens of abblied psygology, galgulated to haf gontrolling influence vith a mob at the--ah, yes!--the zoölogical moment! You vill see, you vill say I am quide righdt! Gome on!" * * * * * "And they aim to get here sudden and soon?" Mr. George Gwinne smiled on his three visitors benevolently. "That's good. We won't have long to wait. I hate waiting. Bad for the nerves. Well, let's get a wiggle. What you got in that box, Spinal? Dynamite?" Spinal grinned happily. "Ho! Dynamite? My, you're the desprit character, ain't you? Dynamite? Not much. Old stuff, and it shoots both ways. We're up-to-date, we are. This here box, Mr. Gwinne--we have in this box the last straw that broke the camel's back. Listen!" He held up the box. Gwinne listened. His smile broadened. He sat down suddenly and--the story hates to tell this--Mr. Gwinne giggled. It was an unseemly exhibition, particularly from a man so large as Mr. Gwinne. "Going to give Dines a gun?" inquired Hamilton. Mr. Gwinne wiped his eyes. "No. That wouldn't be sensible. They'd spring a light on us, see Dines, shoot Dines, and go home. But they don't want to lynch us and they'll hesitate about throwing the first shot. We'll keep Dines where he is." He led the way to Johnny's cell. The conversation had been low-voiced; Johnny was asleep. Gwinne roused him. "Hey, Johnny! When is your friend coming to break you out?" "Huh?" said Johnny. "If he shows up, send him to the back door, and I'll let him in. We're going to have a lynchin' bee presently." "Why, that was me!" said Charlie. "Oh, was it? Excuse me. I didn't recognize your voice. You was speakin' pretty low, you see. I was right round the corner. Dog heard you, and I heard the dog. Well, that's too bad. We could use another good man, right now." Mr. Gwinne spoke the last words with some annoyance. "Well, come on--let's get everything ready. You fellows had better scatter round on top of the cells. I reckon the iron is thick enough to turn a bullet. Anyhow, they can't see you. I'll put out the light. I'm going to have a devil of a time to keep this dog quiet. I'll have to stay right with him or he'll bark and spoil the effect." "They're coming," announced Spinal Maginnis, from a window. "Walkin' quiet--but I hear 'em crossin' the gravel." "By-by, Dinesy," said See. "I've been rolling my warhoop, like you said."