wood
trees, over a lower branch of which they flung a rope. Their work was so
expeditious that, before the spectators could realize what was
happening, they had bound his hands behind his back and fastened one end
of the rope about his neck.

"Stand clear, everybody!" commanded the leader, his gaze sweeping the
throng. Then turning to his men, he said: "When I give the word, boys,
let him swing!"

"Don't, boys--don't!" cried the prisoner in a despairing, supplicating
voice, dropping on his knees. "For God's sake--give me a chance--" but a
jerk of the rope cut short his words which ended in an inarticulate
gurgle in his throat.

"They are going to hang him--it's murder!" gasped Mrs. Forest, clinging
to her trembling, terrified maid who was already on the verge of
fainting.

"Gentlemen," said the Colonel, stepping forward, "I object to such an
unheard-of proceeding! You have no right to hang a man without a trial."

"Say, old punk," cried the leader, turning savagely on the Colonel,
"who's a runnin' this show?" The well-delivered blow of a sledge-hammer
could not have been more crushing in its effect on the Colonel than were
the words of the leader; he was completely silenced. Greatly to his
credit, however, he stood his ground. He was no coward, for he had faced
death and been wounded more than once in his younger days on the field
of battle, and had he possessed a weapon at the moment, he would have
snuffed out the leader's life as deliberately as he would have blown out
the light of a candle, regardless of consequences. But recognizing the
carrion with which he had to deal, and the futility of further
interference, he quietly shrugged his shoulders, smiled and pulled the
end of his mustache. The hanging might proceed so far as he was
concerned.

"Gentlemen," spoke up the Captain, "what has this man done?"

"You'll learn that when we're through with him!" replied the leader.

Even were there no doubt of the prisoner's guilt and hanging a
well-deserved punishment, Captain Forest, nevertheless, liked fair play.
The blood surged to his face. His fighting instincts and spirit of
resentment were thoroughly aroused. He had seen men hanged and shot down
before in the most summary manner, some of them afterward proving to
have been victims of gross error and brute passion. He also knew how
futile it was to argue with men whose passions were roused to the
fighting pitch. The Colonel's interference was an instance of ho