one into the depths
of the chasm. Will, listening in awe, heard his body strike far below.
Then came a terrible silence, in which his heart beat heavily.

"It was a great shot, Giant," whispered Boyd, at length, "but you make
no other kind. It wasn't Felton, was it?"

"No."

"I didn't think it would be. After Will gave the alarm I knew he'd keep
well out of sight. His kind when they're leaders always do. You've given
'em a hint, Giant, that they can't pass this way, the kind of hint that
means most with brigands."

"But two hints will be better than one, Jim," said Tom. "I'm thinkin'
they're still down thar 'mong the rocks, hopin' to pick us off when we
ain't watchin'. But we'll be watchin' all the time. In an hour mebbe
we'll get a chance to tell 'em a second time they can't pass, an' then I
think we'd better light out afore day."

"So do I. Will, take your glasses and keep searching among the rocks."

The lad, who saw that he could now serve best as the eyes of the little
army of three, picked out every crag and hollow with the glasses, but he
did not find any human beings. A half hour later several shots were
fired from distant points by concealed marksmen, and Will heard the
bullets chipping on the stones, although none of them struck near.
Evidently the rifles had been discharged almost at random. Meanwhile,
the number of stars in the heavens increased and new peaks and ridges
swam into the light.

Will began another minute examination with the glasses, and he finally
became convinced that he saw a human figure outstretched on a small
shelf. As he looked longer the details became more clear. It was
undoubtedly a man seeking a shot at them. He called the attention of the
Little Giant, who took the glasses himself, gazed a while and then
resumed his rifle. Will saw that look of menace come over his face again
and he also regarded the man on the shelf as already dead.

The Little Giant pulled the trigger and Will, watching through the
glasses, saw the outlaw quiver convulsively and then lie quite still.
The shelf had become his grave. The lad shivered a little. His lot truly
was cast among wild and terrible scenes.

"I'm thinking the double hint will be enough," said Boyd. "If Felton is
the man I took him to be when I saw him in the morning, he won't care to
risk his skin too much. Nor can any leader of desperadoes keep on
bringing up his men against shooting like yours, Giant. And I want to
say again, Tom,