A rope was then produced, one end of which was
fastened to the top of the tree, and the other about the body of one of
the ringleaders, just below the arms. He struggled, fought and cursed,
but all in vain. When his hands had been tied behind his back, the
tree was released and he was hoisted on high, kicking and yelling in
the most violent manner. The same was about to be done to his two
sullen companions. But they had witnessed enough, so they begged to be
allowed to go to work.

"All right, then," Bolster agreed. "But you know what's in store if
you don't behave yourselves. The first time you'll go up like that
fool there with ropes around your waists, but the second time it'll be
around your necks. See? And let this be a warning to you all," he
said, turning to the cowed slashers.

In the meantime the unfortunate man hanging from the tree was becoming
tired, and the rope was pressing hard around his body. At length he
pleaded to be taken down. Bolster, however, let him remain there a
while longer, but when his cries for mercy became heart-rending, word
was given, and a man with an axe began to chop down the tree. This
increased the cries of the man above.

"Ye'll kill me!" he yelled. "Don't, don't cut the tree! Fer God's
sake, stop!"

The mast-cutters merely shouted with delight at his fears, and hurled
all manner of jibes.

"Got yer wings all ready to fly?" one asked. "Didn't expect ye'd need
them so soon, did ye?"

"Yer havin' great fun with the mast-cutters, ain't ye?" another
bantered. "Ye was goin' t' give them the surprise of their lives."

In a few minutes the tree was ready for its fall. It slowly swayed,
and then with a rush bore the yelling man downward. He landed, as had
been planned, in a great bank of snow, from which he was speedily
rescued, spluttering and puffing like a steam engine. But he had been
taught a lesson, the effect of which was not lost upon the other rebels.

Jean had watched this with intense excitement. At first she was sure
that the man hanging from the tree would be killed. But when she saw
him emerge from the snow unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief, and
even smiled. She knew that in reality he had come off better than he
deserved, as did all of his companions.

"How long will the slashers be kept here?" she asked, turning to Dane
who was standing by her side.

"Until the rangers come to take them away," was the reply. "But come
into the house