So deeply was he impressed by the bride, that upon reaching home he began to enlarge upon her beauties to French Kate--who, it will be borne in mind, was at this time his friend. Ben himself had never known what jealousy meant, although, as we shall see later, he afterward made the discovery. On this occasion, however, he was perfectly innocent in his praises of the young woman. "She was a beauty, and no mistake," he said, enthusiastically. "A beauty, was she?" rejoined Kate, her eyes flashing fire. "She was, as sure as you live," replied Ben, who failed to see that he was heaping coals of fire upon her inflammable nature. "She had the prettiest face and the most perfect form I ever saw in any woman." "And you admire her, do you?" asked Kate, her hands working convulsively. "Yes, yes; indeed I do admire her," answered Ben, honestly. That was more than the high-spirited woman before him could stand. With eyes glistening like a panther's, she made a spring toward the astonished Hogan, and seizing him by the hair, pulled and mauled him about in a very frenzy of rage. In vain he tried to find out what he had done to call forth such an outburst. The infuriated woman wasted no time in answering questions, but taught Ben a lesson which he probably will never forget. That lesson was not to praise one woman before another. So it will be seen that although Ben made a jolly thing out of the wedding, he was himself a good deal taken in before the adventure was over. CHAPTER VIII. Attempt to Murder Ben in Babylon--He Shoots a Man and is Arrested--Frightens the Witnesses and Prevents Perjury--Is Acquitted. In the woods about Babylon were bands of thieves, who lived by plundering the strangers that came within their power. Wild, desperate men were these, who held human life of no greater account than so much earth. Ben's place was frequented by these desperadoes, who were bent upon murder, or anything else, for the sake of plunder. They found in Hogan, however, a man who didn't know the meaning of fear, and who was determined to hold his own against any odds. He gave them to understand that the first outrage committed upon any patron of his house would be avenged with interest. "Understand, gentlemen," he said, "I will shoot down the first man who undertakes to murder anybody coming out of this place!" Finding the sort of man they had to deal with, the ruffians banded together for the purpose of killing Hogan. Lots were drawn to see who should perform this work, and the choice fell upon a fellow known as "Scotty," and one Burke. Waiting until midnight, the assassins entered the bar-room of Hogan's place. There was nobody present but Ben himself and the barkeeper. The moment his eye fell upon the men, Ben suspected mischief, and drawing out two seven-shooters, he said quickly: [Illustration: _HOGAN PLEADING HIS OWN CASE IN TIDIOUTE._]