Shut up, Jim! Don't be a fool!" said Haney. "After 'e's meditated
about it all day 'e'll be reasonable."

Wellesly did not speak, but the two men read a "never surrender" in
his blazing eyes. Haney laughed excitedly and said, replying to his
look:

"You'll feel differently to-night, Mr. Wellesly. That rope's likely
to 'ave a big effect on your state of mind. Jim, we don't want to
leave any knives on 'im."

They went through his pockets and took out everything they contained,
dividing the money between them, while Haney took charge of his
papers. Then they made ready for their own trip, saddling their horses
and preparing to lead the two others.

"We won't leave 'im the least possibility of getting away," said Haney
to Jim, "even if 'e should 'appen to get loose."

"He'll never get out of that rope till we let him out."

"If the 'orses ain't 'ere he won't 'ave any temptation to try. 'E'd
never undertake the desert alone and afoot."

As they started, Haney called out, as good-naturedly as if they were
the best of friends: "Good morning, Mr. Wellesly! I 'ope we'll find
you more reasonable to-night."

Jim took out his revolver and turned in his saddle toward the captive.
Haney grabbed his arm.

"Don't you worry," said Jim. "I ain't a-goin' to kill him, like I
ought to do. I'm just a-goin' to put my mark on him."

Wellesly heard the clicking of the trigger and the thought sped
through his mind that this was his last moment on earth. He saw the
flash and heard the report, and then it seemed many long minutes until
the whizzing of the bullet filled his ear and he heard it thump into
the bark of the tree beside his head. There was a stinging in the rim
of his left ear, where it had nicked out a little rounded segment.

"There!" said Jim, with an ugly laugh, as he put away his gun, "he's
my maverick now, and if anybody else claims him there'll be war."

CHAPTER XIII

The next morning after his arrest Nick Ellhorn was released on bail.
He came out thoroughly sobered, and when he learned what had been the
result of his drunken trick his vocabulary of abusive epithets ran dry
in his effort to characterize his conduct.

"How did you happen to get drunk, Nick?" Judge Harlin asked. "I
thought you had quit. What did you do it for?"

"Sure, and what did I do it for?" said Nick, and the strong Irish
accent in his speech told how deeply he felt his misdeed. For he was
always most Irish when most moved. "I reckon