ger of the man executing his threat. He was so
tired he could scarcely stand upon his feet, and he had eaten nothing
since the hurried meal at midday.

At length the bed was laid, and the men sat down within the shelter of
the lean-to, and Bill ordered:

"Git down here, you kid, and set still too. Don't you try to leave
here. You know what's comin' to you if you do."

As Jamie meekly and thankfully complied, Bill ran his arm into the bag
that had been cached in the tree, and which had been the cause of all
of Jamie's trouble, and drawing forth a bottle removed the cork and
took a long pull from its contents. Making a face as though it did not
taste good, he handed it over to Hank, remarking:

"Have a nip, Hank. It'll warm you up and make you feel good. I don't
like this cruisin' in the dark."

Hank accepted the bottle and after drinking from it returned it to the
bag. Then each drew a pipe and a plug of black tobacco from his
pocket, and cutting some of the tobacco with the knife rolled it
between the palms of his hands, stuffed it into his pipe and lighted
it with a brand from the fire. For several minutes they sat and smoked
in silence.

In the meantime Jamie sat timidly upon the boughs next the man Bill.
As the fire blazed, the chill of the storm and night was driven out,
and a cozy, comfortable warmth filled the lean-to. Jamie's eyes became
heavy, and in spite of his unhappy position he dozed.

"See here," said the man, "you may's well sleep, but I ain't goin' to
take any chances on you. I'm goin' to tie you so's you won't be givin'
us the slip."

"Oh, leave the kid be, Bill! He's all right!" the other man objected.

"I ain't takin' chances," growled Bill. "I'm goin' to have some say
about it, too."

He fumbled in his pocket, and drawing forth some stout twine proceeded
to tie Jamie's hands securely behind his back. Then he tied Jamie's
feet, and gave him a push to the rear.

"Now I guess you'll stay with us all right," he grinned.

"Aw, leave the kid be! What you want to tie him for?" Hank protested.
"He can't get away. Better let him go anyhow."

"You leave me be to do what I wants to do and I'll leave you be to do
what you wants to," growled Bill. "I'm goin' to keep this kid fast.
This is my business."

"I don't know as it's all your business," snapped Hank. "I'm mixed up
in it too, seems to me."

"Well, I caught the kid, and I'm goin' to have my say about what I do
with him," Bill retorted. "