The spectator., 1922-03-24
CHAPTER xiiI-Continued.

watches. The first was to remain awake and on guard until midnight, and the other was to go on duty from watch, with which was the factions leader, had d nightcap of the vitriolIc whisky. flung itself sprawling on the ground and straightway went to sleep.
 The first watch sat around the cracking brushwood fire and played cards for chews of tobacco, cartridges and pocket knives, sang strange and outlandish songs and drank more whisky. One very drunk Torrey gam bled away all his tobacco, all his cart his coat and his hat, his boots and his shirt-and offered to bet his trousers and his ears on the turn of q single card It was funny, and 1t was dis gusting, too. IL was all the work of whisky, which Bill Dale had always hated because 1t made men fools, made them mouth their secrets and made them commit murder.
 After some two hours of these worse than bacchanalan orgies the first watch, heavy with drink, stopped play ing cards and singing outlandish songs, forgot all orders and began to nod. Then 1t was that Dale thought of the man who had been his faithful guardian for many days, the lanky By Heck Why hadn't he thought of Heck before? He wondered if Heck had followed him to the trap, if Heck vas near him even then, if Heck had gone for help.
 By Heck had not followed Bill Dale to the little basin. Blu he had fol lowed Henderson Golf, and Henderson Golf had followed Dale to the little basin Golf had returned to the Big Pine Mountain country only that day and he knew nothing of the plans of the BallTorrey faction until he wit messed the mockery of a trial. Golf was now crouching in the darkness on the low line of cliffs to the eastward from the walnut tree; and not far behind him, we'll hidden in the black
 
 Bill Dale, crouched By Heck.
 Dale's guardian had not gone for help because he feared to leave Dale utterly unprotected in the hands of the gang of cutthroats. He believed that he could rescue Dale himself. When the first watch became a little more drowsy, he would steal up be- hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
 Then he realized that Golf had dis appeared entirely. He crept forward silently, his eyes alert, and a moment later he saw Golf stealing toward the walnut tree He climbed noiselessly down over the face of the cliff and followed Golf like a shadow When Goff's hands touched the tree, By Heck was within ten feet of 1t. Heck made sure his rife was ready and took an other step forward, watching, listen ing.
 : The shyster coal man leaned around the tree to the left. In the glow of the low-burned fire the blade of a small knife in his hand gleamed dull red. He whispered cautiously:
 "Youre in a fix, Dale And it's none of my doing, either. Give me your word that I'll get that coal prop erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll slash the rope. How about 1t? Sick of this country. aren't youT'
 There came few seconds of silence save for the lusty snoring of the sleep CTS and the musical tinkle of the little creek, after which Golf muttered dis sppointedly:
 Well, then, hang v
 And Heck knew that Dale had re fused to sell the Moreland coal for a song even to save his life. AS Golf stepped backward the muzzle of the tall hillman's rifle went against the small of his back, and the tall hillman whispered hoarsely, through teeth tightly clenched:
 Slash at rope, d-n yore soul {! Slash at rope, or wisht l may drap dead ef I don't shoot yore backbone into four thousand pieces, igod Slash itr
 Goff straightened in surprise. The rifles muzzle went harder against his back and he knew 1t for exactly what 1t was. He moved a hand upward, then downward and the cotton rope was severed in half dozen places.
 "Stiddy thar, aow!" whispered By Heck. and he began to back away. "Come along WI me, ye dadslatted banjer-bellied skunk. Bill he'll foller."
 The three of them hurried Into the deeper shadows. Soon Heck halted Gor and turned to Dale.
 Starch him fo' gun, Bill, old boy
 Dale lifted from Henderson Goff's rght-hand coat-pocket a blued and stub-nosed magazine pistol.
 "Dang roy eyes and blast my for rardir Heck exclaimed in untitled voice. Hes plumb death on them little popguns, ain't he? Say, Golf ef ever ye shoots me with thing like that and find 1t out, danged ef I don't spank ye ontel yore nose bloods; Now