t over-confidence. He produced the key and fitted it
into the lock of the fetter, but before he turned it he paused with a
wink of self-satisfaction to say, "Jest a moment, stranger, I'll make
sure of you fust."

The handcuffs were of that type which tightens with pressure as the lock
tumbler slides over a series of notches. With such an arrangement the
wrist can be squeezed and pinched in a refinement of torture that is
disabling. Dawson now clasped his fist around the bracelet which he
meant to leave locked.

"Now ef you tries to make a false move," he volunteered, "I'm goin' ter
squeeze this, an' ef I has ter squeeze hit I ain't ergoin' ter loosen
hit no mo'." I knew him rather well by this time and had no reason to
doubt his truthfulness of intention, so I merely nodded my enforced
acquiescence. I was bracing every nerve and muscle for the possible
opportunity of the next moment, and at the same time was attempting to
appear totally innocent of any threatening intent.

When, with his one free hand the mountaineer attempted to turn the key,
something about the lock stuck, and after a mumbled oath of impatience,
he bent over and took both hands to the task. That was his one
incautious moment, but I stood docile while he removed the manacle, and
then as he straightened up, loosely holding the chain, I sprang back,
wrenching it from his grasp.

He was instantly after me, but I had put enough space between us to
swing the metal weight over my head.

He saw that this time it was a fight to the death and instead of
crowding in upon my blows retreated one step and thrust his hand under
his armpit to the holster. But it was all too momentary even for his
artistic draw. With the chain wrapped about my right hand and the left
bracelet swinging free I lashed viciously out for his face--and landed.
He dropped like a felled tree and as he collapsed the pistol, half-freed
from its case, rattled on the floor.

CHAPTER XXIV

MY DAY IN COURT.

He was not unconscious, but dazed and groggy, and the blood was flowing
from a nasty cut perilously close to the left temple. I was on him and
pinning him against the planks before he could recover himself. I picked
up the fallen key, liberated my right hand, then closing his manacle
about his own wrist, I dragged him over to an upright post and passing
the chain about it fastened his other hand. I had learned something
about gagging now, so by the time he had recovered his fu