and was examined by the major. The prisoner was again placed under the
tree.

"The cut's there, as described," said the major. "Anything else?"

"Ther's this much," said another. "I busted up flat, you all know, on
account of the dry season, last year, an' I hadn't nothin' left but my
hoss. Bill Bowney knowed it as well's anybody else, yet he come and
stole that hoss. It pawed like thunder, an' woke me up--fur 'twas night,
an' light as 'tis now--an' I seed Bowney a-ridin' him off. 'Twas a
sneakin', mean, cowardly trick."

The prisoner hung his head; he would plead guilty to theft and attempt
to kill, and defy his captors to do their worst; but when meanness and
cowardice were proved against him, he seemed ashamed of himself.

"Prisoner virtually admits the charge," said the major, looking
critically at Bowney.

"Gentlemen," said Caney, late of Texas, "what's the use of wastin' time
this way? Everybody knows that Bowney's been at the bottom of all the
deviltry that's been done in the county this three year. Highway
robbery's a hangin' offense in Texas an' every other well-regilated
State; so's hoss-stealin', an' so's shootin' a man in the back, an' yit
Bowney's done ev'ry one of 'em over an' over agin. Ev'rybody knows what
we come here fur, else what's the reason ev'ry man's got a nice little
coil o' rope on his saddle fur? The longer the bizness is put off, the
harder it'll be to do. I move we string him up instanter."

"Second the motion!" exclaimed some one.

"I move we give him a chance to save himself," said a quiet farmer from
New England. "When he's in the road-agent business, he has a crowd to
help him. Now, 'twould do us more good to clean _them_ out than him
alone, so let's give him a chance to leave the State if he'll tell who
his confederates are. Somebody'll have to take care of him, of course,
till we can catch them, and make sure of it."

"'Twon't cost the somebody much, then," said the prisoner, firmly; "an'
I'd give a cool thousand for a shot at any low-lived coyote that 'ud ax
me to do sich an ungentlemanly thing."

"Spoke like a man," said Caney, of Texas. "I hope ye'll die easy for
that, Bill."

"The original motion prevails," said the major; "all in favor will say
ay."

A decided "ay" broke from the party.

"Whoever has the tallest horse will please lead him up and unsaddle
him," said the major, after a slight pause. "The witnesses will take the
prisoner in charge."

A horse was brou