not?" said Hal. "You never can tell about those things, Matin."

"Trying to be funny, are you?" returned Matin. "Well, go ahead. You won't
lie funny long--not to anyone but me. I'm going to shoot you."

"Don't suppose you would let me draw my own gun first, would you?"
asked Hal.

"No. What do you think I am?"

"Just a coward; that's all," said Hal, quietly.

"Coward, am I?" exclaimed Matin, taking a quick step forward.

"Correct," replied Hal. "It's about your size to shoot a man in the
back. I have had dealings with your kind before. You're afraid to take
an even chance."

"It's not that I'm afraid," said Matin. "It's just that I want to make
sure. I failed twice before."

"Then it was you who tried to shoot me in here one night, eh?" asked Hal.

"Yes; and I would have succeeded had it not been for your friend. When I
have disposed of you I shall settle with him also."

"I don't think so, Matin."

"You don't? What's to prevent me?"

"Why," said Hal, "when I am through with you, you will be in no condition
to settle with anyone. Now, if you will take my advice, you'll put that
gun in your pocket and leave this tent."

"Talk pretty big, don't you?" said Matin, with a sneer. "Well, I'll
show you!"

He raised his revolver so that the muzzle pointed squarely between Hal's
eyes. His finger tightened on the trigger.

"One moment, Matin," said Hal, quietly. "Don't you know that before you
can pull the trigger my friend in the doorway will kill you?"

A look of fright and disappointment passed over Matin's face. Slowly he
lowered his revolver and turned toward the doorway. It was the moment for
which Hal had been waiting.

With a bound he leaped upon Matin and with his left hand seized Matin's
right wrist. Matin uttered a snarl of rage.

"Tricked me, did you?" he shouted. "You shall pay for it."

It had been Hal's intention at first simply to wrest the revolver
from his opponent's hands and then turn the man over to the officer
of the guard.

But Matin's strength was greater than the lad had imagined; also he was
wild with rage. With his free hand he struck viciously at Hal, while he
kicked with his feet and sought to bury his teeth in Hal's arm.

But Hal held him back.

Vainly, Matin sought to move his right arm around so as to bring the
muzzle upon Hal's heart. With a quick move Hal suddenly released his hold
upon Matin's pistol wrist and seized the pistol hand. His finger covered
Matin's finger