n one of the
lower limbs, and to express sentiments of the most utter loathing and
disgust.

The afternoon wore away, and the moon shone brilliantly down from the
cloudless sky.

The tramp of a horse was heard at a distance, but rapidly growing more
distinct, and soon Bowney's captor galloped up to the tree.

Then another horse was heard, then others, and soon ten or a dozen men
were gathered together.

Each man, after dismounting, walked up to where the captive lay, and
gave him a searching look, and then they joined those who had already
preceded them, and who were quietly chatting about wheat, cattle,
trees--everything but the prisoner.

Suddenly one of the party separated himself from the others, and
exclaimed:

"Gentlemen, there don't seem to be anybody else a-comin'--we might as
well 'tend to bizness. I move that Major Burkess takes the chair, if
there's no objections."

No objections were made, and Major Burkess--a slight, peaceable,
gentlemanly-looking man--stepped out of the crowd, and said:

"You all know the object of this meeting, gentlemen. The first thing in
order is to prove the identity of the prisoner."

"Needn't trouble yourself 'bout that," growled the prisoner. "I'm Bill
Bowney; an' yer too cowardly to untie me, though ther _be_ a dozen uv
yer."

"The prisoner admits he is Bill Bowney," continued the major, "but of
course no gentleman will take offense at his remarks. Has any one any
charge to make against him?"

"Charges?" cried an excitable farmer. "Didn't I catch him untying my
horse, an' ridin' off on him from Budley's? Didn't I tell him to drop
that anamile, an' didn't he purty near drop _me_ instead?
Charges?--here's the charge!" concluded the farmer, pointing
significantly to a scar on his own temple.

"Pity I didn't draw a better bead!" growled the prisoner. "The hoss only
fetched two ounces."

"Prisoner admits stealing Mr. Barke's horse, and firing on Mr. Barke.
Any further evidence?"

"Rather," drawled an angular gentleman. "I was goin' up the valley by
the stage, an' all of a sudden the driver stopped where there wasn't no
station. There was fellers had hold of the leaders, an' there was
pistols p'inted at the driver an' folks in general. Then our money an'
watches was took, an' the feller that took mine had a cross-cut scar on
the back of his hand--right hand; maybe somebody'll look at Bill's."

The prisoner was carried into the moonlight, and the back of his right
h