“Oh, there are steps--niches in it,” interrupted the boy. “Go and look.” A minute’s walk sufficed to bring Old Tom to the fringe of the precipice, and a moment later, with much of his old courage, he was looking over the dizzy height. A shade of disappointment came to the faces of the watchers. He was looking down as if his suspicions had been confirmed. “Can you cut him loose and bring up the rope?” asked the boy hanger. “Cut who loose, an’ git what rope?” “Why the man hanging from the beam in the wall.” “Ye’re mistaken, jedge; somebody’s fooled ye.” “Mistaken--fooled?” echoed the boy, and he quickly thrust the revolver into Myra’s hand, saying: “You can shoot; watch that man and drop him over the cliff if he attempts to fly or attack. No man at the beam? Great heavens! what has become of Rosebud Dan?” Rosebud Dan, rope, all had disappeared. The boy lyncher shrunk back, for the moment unnerved. His face was colorless, and he glanced at the Gulch Giant who was trying, as it seemed, to fathom his surprise. He staggered rather than walked back to the girl, who, revolver in hand, had not taken her eyes from Tom Terror one second. “The Thug was right. Rosebud Dan and the rope are gone,” he said. “Cut down?” “Heaven knows. But one thing is certain. If he was not dead the secret may yet reach my ears. If the lasso slipped from its rocks, Deadly Dan will never divulge the secret.” He silently took the pistol from Myra’s hand and looked at Tom. “For the present you can mount your horse and go where you please,” he said. “Honest Injun, jedge? So, you’re goin’ to hang me, boy?” “I am.” “You’re a sneakin’ little liar!” came over the gray steed’s ears. “On the contrary, I’m goin’ to make a widow outen thet livin’ doll at yer side, then I’ll leave Cut-throat an’ work a bonanza bigger nor twenty Emma Kings. You heard what that fellow said down in the canyon awhile ago? He war right; the big bonanza ar’ goin’ to hev but one share.” As the man’s lips quivered with the uttering of the last word, he turned his horse’s head and spurred him away. Hal, the lyncher, gazed after him like a person just emerging from a trance. “He’ll try to keep his word!” exclaimed Myra. “Then you have not guessed,” he said, wheeling upon her. “Tom Terror knows the secret that died with Deadly Dan--if he is really dead. My life is sought for a purpose. Oh, Heaven, what is this mystery?” CHAPTER IV. Than Lilly, Antenat and Moravy, the three Vigilantes detailed by Maverick Joe to remain in Cut-throat for certain purposes, a trio of braver men never crossed the rushing river of the Great West. In many places great indentations, and even caves existed, and it was into one of the latter that the three Vigilantes went after hearing their leader’s command.