atch for the big fellow; at least, when he was in such a
desperate mood. Sparwick fought from underneath for a few seconds,
dealing and receiving blows. Then he strained every muscle and rose
slowly up, with his foes still clinging to him. He shook them off as a
panther would scatter a pack of hounds.

Bogle fell in one direction, and Raikes in another. They had no desire
to renew the struggle on the same terms. As soon as they could get to
their feet, they sped across the room, and snatched two rifles from
above the door. These Sparwick had not observed, but meanwhile he had
captured a loaded weapon from over the fireplace.

This led, oddly enough, to a drawn game. On the very instant when
Sparwick drew a bead on the foremost of his enemies, both Raikes and
Bogle leveled their weapons straight at his breast. There was a brief
and awful pause. Why neither party opened fire it is impossible to say.
Some strange instinct stayed their hands.

"Put them weapons down," said Sparwick, in calm tones.

"Lower yours first," replied Raikes.

"Not likely," muttered Sparwick. "I can't trust two such lyin' skunks
an' sneaks."

There was another pause. Then Raikes let the barrel of his weapon fall.
Bogle instantly did the same.

"Your turn, Sparwick," he said, suddenly. "I'm a peaceable man, and
would go a good deal out of my way any time to avoid bloodshed. So the
thousand dollars is yours; I give you my word on it. It's not a square
deal, though. You ought to have been satisfied with five hundred."

"That ain't my way of thinkin'," replied Sparwick, as he slightly
lowered his rifle; "and as for the offer of a thousand, why, that's come
too late. What I want now is five thousand, an' I'm going ter have it or
bust this game."

This audacious statement made Raikes and Bogle fairly gasp for breath.

"Five thousand dollars!" screamed Bogle. "What do you take us for? Do
you expect us to give you half of the whole sum?"

In his anger, he lifted his rifle again.

"Drop that," cried Sparwick. "If you do it another time, I'll put a
bullet through you. I'm one against two, an' if it comes to a shootin'
match, possibly I might get wiped out; but I reckon you won't kill me
for fear of hangin'. An' I reckon you'll agree ter what I ask, since if
you refuse, your game is up. I don't mean that you should give me half
of the ten thousand. We'll go shares alike. Make the lad write them
letters over ag'in an' change the figger to fifteen