“Great rocks and the gods! did you all notice ’im?” he exclaimed, turning to his men. “He is dead, stone dead!” said several. “Look! there he sits yet! just as we passed ’im. He’ll tumble off when his horse moves.” The band looked back, and saw the occupant of the pass, motionless, like an equestrian statue in brass. But suddenly the silence was broken. “Now for the bonanza. Hurrah! for the claim what hes but one big share!” Then the ghostly horse shot forward, and the white-faced men who looked, saw him carry his death-touched rider out of sight. * * * * * To return to the boy Vigilante and his prisoner. The words that we have recorded as they fell from the youth’s lips, told Deadly Dan that his life was in imminent peril. His arms had been pinioned at his sides, and Red Crest, the Sioux, trotted at his horse’s head. “Where is this self-styled court where you are popularly supposed to administer justice?” sneered the captive Sport, unable to curb his feelings and impatience longer. He had turned upon the boy avenger to whose temples a flush of indignation mounted. “We are almost there,” was the answer. “You are not expecting mercy at our hands?” “I don’t ask any,” was the mad retort. “You were going to grant me much that night in the camp on the Rosebud when Red Crest interfered.” Deadly Dan shot a look of anger at the Indian which was returned with interest. “Of course not,” he said, answering his young interlocutor. “If you know what I do, boy, maybe you wouldn’t blame me for wanting your life--that is, if you were in my place, and had my nature.” The eyes of Judge Lynch, Jr., dilated with astonishment; he glanced quickly at Red Crest as if fearful that the Sioux was listening. But such did not seem to be the case. “What do you mean?” he ejaculated, without second thought, but the derisive smile that came to Dan’s lips quickly told him that he had been too precipitate. “Ha! wouldn’t you like to know?” whispered Deadly Dan, leaning toward his captor. “You know that there is some secret connected with your life; you must believe that I am the possessor of it, but I can not think that you are fool--idiot enough to dream that I am going to divulge it. Do you think I will, judge?” The boy could but notice the triumphant twinkle in his prisoner’s eyes. “A secret about me?” he asked himself. “This is the third time I have heard such hints,” and while he thought, his look told Dan how wolfishly the insatiable demon curiosity was gnawing at his heart-strings. He did not notice that they had entered Cut-throat, so intently was he gazing into the handsome young face revealed by the soft moonlight. “We are here,” fell suddenly from the Indian’s lips, and the boy, throwing a hasty glance around, replied: “Indeed, we have reached our court. Rosebud, in all your travels have you ever seen such a temple of justice?” The last words roused him. He started like a captive who forgets that he is bound.