One man who was among the first to arrive, appeared high in authority, judging from the deference with which he was regarded by the others. He seemed ill at ease, or very impatient, moving restlessly to and fro, muttering more than one curse beneath his breath, stamping his foot fiercely or nervously fingering the weapons at his belt. “How many are there here, Thompson?” he uttered, abruptly pausing beside a tall, muscular frame. “Seventeen, by my count, Cap’n Jap,” replied the man, with the stumpy pipe still clenched betwixt his teeth. “Thar’s two more yit—Colton an’ Marcks.” “Can it be that he suspects the purpose of our meeting to-night? The soft-headed fool may have seen his brother since then, and as he knows the laws of our band, that would put him on his guard. Let him beware! He’d better cut his own throat than to prove false to us now.” “True es preachin’, Cap’n Jap,” quoth Thompson. “We’d sarve him wuss’n we did Hans Koch. But he’ll be here, I reckon. He’s most al’ays behindhan’.” “Start the fire, Jim. We must have light for the drawing. Ha! there comes some one now!” “Yas—an’ it’s _him_, too. He rides the only racker in the band.” “Good!” then adding in a low, rapid tone. “You must watch him close, Thompson. When he learns what is on the boards, he may cut up nasty. Keep close enough to him to grab him if I give the word. You understand?” “Bet ye—I’ll do it, never fear,” muttered the man, as he gathered a handful of dried leaves and grass. “Well, Colton,” sternly uttered the man addressed as Captain Jap—his name being Jasper Morton—turning to the last comer, “you are late, as usual.” “I could not help it, Captain Morton. I was kept—” “No excuses. But if you ever hope to rise higher in the band, you must break yourself of this habit. Only for one thing, you would have been discharged from the league, long ago.” “And that is—” “We know you would betray us before the week was out. There—you need not deny it. I know you too well. I merely mentioned this now because I believe you need a hint of the kind. You are watched—I tell you that much. You remember Hans Koch? It has not been so long since that you should forget his fate. Take care that we do not have to deal with you in that manner.” “What have I done that you should threaten me in this manner, Captain Morton? Have I ever proved false—haven’t I always obeyed orders?” “There—don’t get your back up, Jack Colton. What I say is for your own good. If I am not mistaken you will be tested to-night, more severely than you think. See to it that you do not fail. If you do—_you die_!” “I don’t understand you.” “You will, before long. That will do, Thompson. We only require a little light, and some prying eye might catch the glimmer. Now, men,” he added, after a brief pause, “gather round and listen well to what I say. We have work to do this night—some of you may know what I mean, but most of you do not. Listen well, but keep silence.