“You may jump now, as soon as you please.” Carter manifested great disgust at Skinner’s attempt to run away. While he was standing on the drop, one of the Vigilantes requested him to confess that he had participated in the murder of Tiebalt. “If I had my hands free,” he replied with an oath, “I’d make you take that back.” Skinner, who stood by his side, was talking violently at the time, and Carter was ordered to be quiet. “Well, then, let’s have a smoke,” said he; and, a lighted pipe being given him, he remained quiet. Both criminals, as they were launched from the platform, exclaimed, “I am innocent”—the password of the band. They died apparently without pain. The party that arrested Zachary arrived with him the next morning. He was tried and found guilty. By his directions a letter was written to his mother, in which he warned his brothers and sisters to avoid drinking, card-playing, and bad company—three evils which, he said, had brought him to the gallows. On the scaffold he prayed that God would forgive the Vigilantes for what they were doing, as it was the only way to clear the country of road agents. He died without apparent fear or suffering. Johnny Cooper was drawn to the scaffold in a sleigh, his wounded leg rendering him unable to walk. He asked for his pipe. “I want,” said he, “a good smoke before I die. I always did enjoy a smoke.” A letter had been written to his parents, who lived in the State of New York. Several times, while a Vigilante was engaged in adjusting the rope, he dodged the noose, but, on being told to keep his head straight, he submitted. He died without a struggle. Having finished their mission, the Vigilantes returned to Nevada. CHAPTER XL EXECUTION OF HUNTER Soon after the transactions recorded in the last chapter, the Virginia City Vigilantes were informed that Bill Hunter had been seen in the Gallatin Valley. It was reported that he sought a covert among the rocks and brush, where he remained during the day, stealing out at night and seeking food among the scattered settlers, as he could find it. His place of concealment was about twenty miles from the mouth of the Gallatin River. A number of the Vigilantes, under the pretence of joining the Barney Hughes stampede to a new placer discovery, left Virginia City, and scoured the country for a distance of sixty miles or more, in search of the missing ruffian. Hunter was discovered during this search.