ce fraught with suspense, growing
more charged every long instant. The balance here seemed about to
be struck.

"Wade, I've been a gambler all my life, an' a damn smart one, if I do
say it myself," declared the rustler leader, his voice inharmonious with
the facetiousness of his words. "An' I'll make a last bet."

"Go ahead, Cap. What'll you bet?" answered the cold voice, still gentle,
but different now in its inflection.

"By Gawd! I'll bet all the gold hyar that Hell-Bent Wade wouldn't shoot
any man in the back!"

"You win!"

Slowly and stiffly the rustler rose to his feet. When he reached his
height he deliberately swung his leg to kick Belllounds in the face.

"Thar! I'd like to have a reckonin' with you, Buster Jack," he said. "I
ain't dealin' the cards hyar. But somethin' tells me thet, shaky as I am
in my boots, I'd liefer be in mine than yours."

With that, and expelling a heavy breath, he wrestled around to confront
the hunter.

"Wade. I've no hunch to your game, but it's slower'n I recollect you."

"Why, Cap, I was in a talkin' humor," replied Wade.

"Hell! You're up to some dodge. What'd you care fer my learnin' thet
pup had double-crossed me? You won't let me kill him."

"I reckon I wanted him to learn what real men thought of him."

"Ahuh! Wal, an' now I've onlightened him, what's the next deal?"

"You'll all go to Kremmlin' with me an' I'll turn you over to Sheriff
Burley."

That was the gauntlet thrown down by Wade. It was not unexpected, and
acceptance seemed a relief. Folsom's eyeballs became living fire with
the desperate gleam of the reckless chances of life. Cutthroat he might
have been, but he was brave, and he proved the significance of
Wade's attitude.

"Pards, hyar's to luck!" he rang out, hoarsely, and with pantherish
quickness he leaped for his gun.

A tense, surcharged instant--then all four men, as if released by some
galvanized current of rapidity, flashed into action. Guns boomed in
unison. Spurts of red, clouds of smoke, ringing reports, and hoarse
cries filled the cabin. Wade had fired as he leaped. There was a
thudding patter of lead upon the walls. The hunter flung himself
prostrate behind the bough framework that had served as bedstead. It was
made of spruce boughs, thick and substantial. Wade had not calculated
falsely in estimating it as a bulwark of defense. Pulling his second
gun, he peeped from behind the covert.

Smoke was lifting, and drifting out of door a