to lift a hand.

"What objection have you got to our ridding the earth of this damned
scoundrel, I'd like to know?" he asked, choking with rage.

"Oh, as to that, I've got several, Jim Blake, and one of them is--I
don't like to see a man hanged before breakfast. It sort of takes away
one's appetite, you know," he added, coolly eyeing his adversary over
the barrel of his pistol.

"Well, if you ain't the most impudent cuss I ever seen!" cried Blake, by
this time almost on the point of exploding.

"Perhaps I am," answered Dick, the faintest smile playing about the
corners of his mouth. "You're putting up a pretty big bluff, Jim, but I
happen to be holding the cards in this game and I rather think you'll
stay and see it out.

"Bob Carlton," he continued, addressing the prisoner whom the Captain
had freed, "there's a black horse in the corral back of the house; jump
on him just as he is and make tracks out of here as almighty fast as you
know how!"

"Thank you, Dick, I'll not forget you!" cried Carlton, starting in the
direction of the corral but, catching sight of Miss Van Ashton, he
stopped short. "I--I beg your pardon, Madame," he stammered, "but would
you mind telling me your name?"

"I can't see what business that is of yours!" replied Bessie curtly and
with a toss of the head, turning her back upon him.

"I meant no offense, Madame--I--"

"Van Ashton's her name," said the Captain.

"Van Ashton!" he exclaimed.

"You had better be moving, Carlton--you damn fool!" came Dick's angry
voice. "The next time you're in for a funeral I may not be around to
stop it!"

Carlton needed no further urging. The sound of a horse going at full
speed was presently heard on the road beyond the _Posada_.

"Don't any one move," said Dick quietly, as all listened in silence to
the sounds which grew fainter and fainter until they ceased altogether
in the distance.

"He's got a good mile start by this time," said Dick at length, coolly
lowering his pistol and returning it to his pocket. "Gentlemen," he
continued, leisurely descending the veranda, "you're at liberty to
follow him if you like."

"After him, boys!" yelled Blake, suddenly aroused to fresh action.

"It's no use, Jim," said one of his men, "our hosses is cleaned blowed."

"Damnation!" growled Blake, tugging nervously at his beard. "And now,
Dick Yankton," he continued, confronting him squarely with both feet
spread wide apart and his hands thrust to his elbows i