a whole belt
full of .44's. If it had been Mr. Cassidy's gun that had been handed over
he would have enjoyed the joke on Mr. Travennes, who would have had five
cartridges between himself and the promised eternity, as he would have
been unable to use the .44's in Mr. Cassidy's .45, while the latter would
have gladly consented to the change, having as he did an extra .45. Never
before had Mr. Cassidy looked with reproach upon his .45 caliber Colt's,
and he sighed as he used it to notify Mr. Travennes that arbitration
was not to be considered, which that person indorsed, said indorsement
passing so close to Mr. Cassidy's ear that he felt the breeze made by
it.

"He's been practicin' since I plugged him up in Santa Fe," thought Mr.
Cassidy, as he retired around the hut to formulate a plan of campaign.

Mr. Travennes sang "Hi-le, hi-lo," and other selections, principally
others, and wondered how Mr. Cassidy could hoist him out. The slack of
his belt informed him that he was in the middle of a fast, and suggested
starvation as the derrick that his honorable and disgusted adversary
might employ.

Mr. Cassidy, while figuring out his method of procedure, absent-mindedly
jabbed a finger in his eye, and the ensuing tears floated an idea to
him. He had always had great respect for ricochet shots since his friend
Skinny Thompson had proved their worth on the hides of Sioux. If he
could disturb the sand and convey several grains of it to Mr. Travennes'
eyes the game would be much simplified. While planning for the proposed
excavation, a la Colt's, he noticed several stones lying near at hand,
and a new and better scheme presented itself for his consideration.
If Mr. Travennes could be persuaded to get out of--well, it was worth
trying.

Mr. Cassidy lined up his gloomy collection and tersely ordered them to
turn their backs to him and to stay in that position, the suggestion
being that if they looked around they wouldn't be able to dodge quickly
enough. He then slipped bits of his lariat over their wrists and ankles,
tying wrists to ankles and each man to his neighbor. That finished
to his satisfaction, he dragged them in the hut to save them from the
burning rays of the sun.

Having performed this act of kindness, he crept along the hot sand,
taking advantage of every bit of cover afforded, and at last he reached
a point within a hundred feet of the besieged. During the trip
Mr. Travennes sang to his heart's content, some of t