the half-breed Raven
stood calmly regarding them, his hands on his hips. He knew well, as did
the men watching from above, that all that stood between him and death
were those same two hands and the revolvers in his belt, whose butts
were snugly nosing up to his fingers. Little Thunder had too often seen
those fingers close and do their deadly work while an eyelid might wink
to venture any hasty move.

"Is that all?" said Raven at last.

Little Thunder made one final appeal, working himself up into a fine
frenzy of passion. Then Raven made reply.

"Listen to me!" he said. "It is all folly, mad folly! And besides," and
here his voice rang out like a trumpet, "I am for the Queen, God bless
her!" His figure straightened up, his hands dropped on the butts of his
guns.

"By Jove!" exclaimed Cameron. "Isn't that great?"

"Very fine, indeed," said the Inspector softly. Both men's guns were
lined upon the conspirators.

Then the half-breed spoke, shrugging his shoulders in contempt.

"Let heem go. Bah! No good." He spat upon the ground.

Raven stood as he was for a few moments, smiling.

"Good-bye, all," he said. "Bon jour, Louis. Let no man move! Let no man
move! I never need to shoot at a man twice. Little Thunder knows. And
don't follow!" he added. "I shall be waiting behind the rocks."

He slowly backed away from the group, turned in behind a sheltering
rock, then swiftly began to climb the rocky sides of the canyon. The
moment he was out of sight Little Thunder dodged in behind the ledges,
found his rifle, and, making a wide detour, began to climb the side of
the ravine at an angle which would cut off Raven's retreat. All this
took place in full view of the two watchers above.

"Let's get that devil," said the Inspector. But Cameron was already
gone. Swiftly along the lip of the canyon Cameron ran and worked his way
down the side till he stood just over the sloping ledge upon which the
Indian was crouched and waiting. Along this lodge came the unconscious
Raven, softly whistling to himself his favourite air,

"Three cheers for the red, white and blue."

There was no way of warning him. Three steps more and he would be within
range. The Inspector raised his gun and drew a bead upon the crouching
Indian.

"Wait!" whispered Cameron. "Don't shoot. It will bring them all down on
us." Gathering himself together as he spoke, he vaulted clear over
the edge of the rock and dropped fair upon the shoulders of th