sternly; "we don't want to hang the
wrong men, and there is a growing opinion here that you and your
companions have not made out your charge."

"What!" roared Redbeard, as the Cornishman gave his young companions a
nod; "not made out our case? Hear that, mates? Well, I _am_ blessed!"

"You charge them with robbery and attempted murder."

"Yes; didn't my mate show you his leg?" cried Redbeard indignantly.

"Oh, yes; and the prisoners, who defend themselves by charging you with
attacking them, reply by displaying their wounds."

"Well, wouldn't you shoot if you was attacked? So where's your
justice?"

"I will show you that I want to give you fair play," said the judge.
"There is enough in this case to mean the sternest sentence, and it will
be awarded to the guilty parties."

There was a murmur of approval at this, and the judge said sternly,
"Separate those three men, and separate the prisoners; keep them apart,
so that they cannot communicate with one another."

There was a quick movement, and a couple of armed men placed themselves
right and left of Dallas and Abel.

"Hullo!" said the Cornishman, "am I a prisoner, too? All right; I'm in
good company."

But there was a little resistance on the part of the accusing party.

"Look here," growled Redbeard fiercely, "I want to know what this
means."

"The rope and the tree for you and your friends if you fire, sir," cried
the judge sternly.

"But--"

"Stand where you are," cried the judge. "Six of you take those other
two outside, quite apart, and mind, you are answerable to your sheriff
for bringing them back."

Redbeard growled as he stood beneath the great lamp, the two others
which had been burning having been turned out so that a better view
could be had from behind of each stage of the proceedings.

"Look here," cried Redbeard fiercely, as his companions were led out,
"why aren't the prisoners to be sent out too? Is this fair play,
pardners?"

"Yes," said the judge; "they are the prisoners. I only want your
witnesses to be out of court."

There was a dead silence while the two men were led away, and a ray of
hope began to shed light through the darkness of despair in the young
men's brains, as they read in all this a strange desire on the part of
their amateur judge to do justice between the parties.

They glanced round through the smoke of the gloomy place, to see fierce
eyes fixed upon them on all sides, while in front there was the j