Wade's eyes, Thompson saw it, and his
flesh quivered. He saw Wade raise his rifle barrel until it was level
with his breast, up it came until it was level with his head. There came
over him an impulse to break and run for his life, but his horror of
being shot in the back kept him from doing so. The sensation within him
at that moment was terrible. Suddenly, being thoroughly overcome with
fright, he threw both hands high into the air and cried out for mercy.

"For God's sake," he exclaimed, "don't kill me this way!"

"I knew you were a coward," said Wade. "I didn't ask you for mercy when
you would have driven your knife through me, but I am going to hear your
cry and let you go. One thing I want to know, however, and I must have
the absolute truth. Didn't you come down this way looking for me?"

"Yes."

"And intended killing me?"

"I did."

"What object had you in telling the officers that I killed Franklin?"

"I wanted to fix ye then."

"Did you not shoot Franklin yourself?"

"No, no. I didn't! Hit was a bullet from your gun, or old man Judson's.
No, Wade, I did not do that. I hain't that mean, ef they do say I am."

"How did you know I was out with the Riders?"

"I didn't know ye was there. I took a long shot ter fix ye, that's all."

"All right, now, here are your pistols. Take them and get as fast as you
can. Don't try to use them now, but when you get the drop on me again
you had better pull the trigger."

Wade watched Thompson as he made his departure. When he had put
considerable distance between them Al fired both his pistols in the air
and gave one of his old-time Comanche yells that vibrated through the
woodland.

"I'll git ye yet," he cried back. "Ye hain't, got away from me, an'
what's more, ye hain't a-goin' ter."

Wade drifted back across the stream to where he had left Nora, and found
her shaking from fright.

"You didn't take these matters so seriously when I first came into this
country," said Jack.

"No," replied Nora, "for then I did not think as I do now. I really
believed you were about to commit murder. Oh, Jack, how happy you have
made me, by withholding your hand."

"Once you said it would be better for me to kill Thompson at sight. Did
you not?"

"I did not, Jack. That is what father told you."

"Pardon me, Nora, you are quite right. Time has blurred my memory."

"I am so glad, Jack, that you are such a fearless man. A coward would
have taken the advantage you had and