w?"

"See this rifle uv mine? I reckon it ain't got all the fancy tricks that
some uv the new repeatin' breech-loadin' rifles hev. It's jest a cap an'
ball rifle, but it's got a long, straight barrel an' a delicate trigger,
an' it sends a bullet wherever you p'int it. It's killed squirrels,
an' rabbits, an' wil' turkeys an' catamounts, an' b'ars, an' now I reckon
it's goin' to hunt higher game."

The man was talking very quietly, but when Dick caught the light in his
eye he knew that he meant every word. It was a cold, implacable look,
and the face of the mountaineer was like that of an avenging fate.

"I loaded it with uncommon care," he continued, looking affectionately at
his rifle, and then looking up again, "an' now that the colonel's glasses
hev showed the way I kin see that feller peepin' from roun' his bush,
tryin' to git another shot, mebbe at me an' mebbe at you. It's a long
carry, but I'm shore to hit. I had a chance at him then, but I 'low to
wait a little!"

"Why do you wait?" asked Dick curiously.

"I'm givin' him time to say his prayers."

"Why, he doesn't know that you're going to shoot at him, and he wouldn't
pray, even if he did."

"Mebbe not, but I was raised right, an' I know my duty. I ain't goin' to
send no man to kingdom without givin' him _time_ to pray. Ef he won't
use it the blame is his'n, but that ain't no reason why I oughtn't to
give him the _time_."

"How long?"

"Wa'al, I reckon 'bout three minutes is 'nough fur a right good prayer.
Thar, he's shot ag'in, but I don't know whar his bullet went. He's usin'
up his prayin' time fast."

Reed never altered his quiet, assured tone. He reminded Dick of Warner,
talking about his algebra, and the lad was impressed so much by his
manner that he believed he was going to do as he said. He began
unconsciously to count the seconds.

"Time's up," said Reed at length, "an' that traitor is pokin' his head
'roun' fur another shot."

He raised suddenly his long-barreled rifle, took a quick aim, and pulled
the trigger. A stream of fire poured from the muzzle, the figure of a
man leaped from the bush and then rolled down the snowy slope.

"I give him plenty uv time," said Reed as he reloaded. "Now I reckon
I'll look fur that other feller, Leonard. I'll know him when I see him,
an' this old cap-an'-ball rifle uv mine knows too how to talk to
traitors."

Dick left presently with a message to a captain who was in command of the
fo