sonage would have been captured, had not
the lightning, which continued to act the part of illuminator,
discovered their approach to him. His feet were instantly seen to
twinkle in the air, and he whisked off the stump as quick as thought,
and disappeared. To make sure, however, the Riflemen passed their hands
over the stump, but of course found nothing. The booming of the thunder
had been so continuous, that the reports of the rifles had not awakened
the settlers, and the three hunters conversed together without fear of
disturbance.

"I don't care what he is," said O'Hara, "I'm sure I've seen him
before."

"Just what I am sure of," added Dick. "The very second I laid my eyes
on him, his face seemed familiar. But it must have been several years
ago."

"It's queer I can't remember," repeated O'Hara, as if talking with
himself.

"I remember having seen him, too, I'll be hanged if I don't," added
George Dernor, with a dogged decision.

O'Hara made a leap fully six feet from the ground, and uttered a
half-whistle, indicative of some great discovery.

"What's up? what's the matter?" asked Dick, considerably surprised.

"Just one of you break my head, will you, for I'm the greatest fool
that ever lived. I remember now who that man is."

"Who?"

O'Hara repeated a name that fairly took the breath away from the
others. They had let one of the most inhuman villains of the day
escape, and one for whose life either of the Riflemen would have
undergone any sacrifice. The mention of his name, too, revealed to them
the reason why he had been unharmed by their shots.

"We fired at his _breast_ every time," said O'Hara. "If we had only
fired at some other part of his body, he would have been riddled. What
a precious set of fools we are!"

As no one disputed this exclamation, it may be supposed that all agreed
to it. At any rate, their vexation was extreme for having failed to
remember the man who, at that particular time, was probably more
notorious than any other living being in the West.

"What's done can't be helped," remarked Dick. "If we ever have the
chance to draw bead on him again, we'll _know where to aim_."

Nothing further was seen of the man who had braved their utmost through
the night. He had taken his departure, and was fated to play an
important _role_ with a couple of our other friends.

The storm abated toward morning, and the settlers were once more under
way. Their destination, a small frontier set