uncertainty of how fast
and how much the different fastenings would contract doubled the
torturing knowledge that the shrinking must inevitably pull him within
reach of the snake.

Physical agony would then soon be added to the mental anguish of dread.
For, once the snake's horny snout grazed the top of his head, he would
be forced to keep his head raised, on penalty of being pierced by the
fangs if he should seek to rest.

Then was when Slade no doubt felt certain that the overstrained nerves
of his victim would give way. Lennon foresaw that if worse came to
worst, he must agree to terms. After holding up his head as long as his
strength lasted, he would be forced to yield. Why not yield at once and
save all the torture?

As he asked himself the question, a grateful shadow swept down the
canon. The sun was setting. Lennon reconsidered his half-formed
decision. During the night the rawhide might continue to shrink a little
in the dry air, but the darkness and chill would quiet the snake. It
would lie still until sunrise. Time enough to yield when yielding should
become inevitable!

"If you'll pardon me, Slade," he said, "I believe I'll take a nap. Good
night. Pleasant dreams."

Slade started to curse but ended in a derisive laugh.

"Think you'll four-flush, huh? Well, we'll see after sun-up."

He turned his back on the prisoner and walked over to where the old
Navaho was starting a fire for the inevitable flapjacks, bacon, and
coffee. The thought of food nauseated Lennon. But he would have given a
thousand dollars for one of the canteens of water. Regardless of a hiss
from the half-strangled snake, he laid his other cheek over on the
cooling sand.

After a time Slade came with a blazing stick for torch to wish him a
mocking good night. Lennon smiled back at him with a show of confidence.
The trader cursed but soon went off to roll in his blankets. This proved
Lennon's surmise that the real test would not come before morning.

He lay for a long time wide-eyed, forcing himself to consider in detail
every aspect of the situation and to calculate his chances. Beyond
question, Slade intended to murder him. But there was first the ransom
money to be secured. Would he wait for it, as in the case of the cowman
whom Elsie had told about? Or might he not fall into a rage and destroy
his victim as he had killed the pony?

If he could keep his temper, the probabilities were that he would
prolong the torture until he ha