"Have either of you men anythin' to say why I shouldn't now pass sentence of death on you?"
"Only this," said Mr. Willett: "that you will pass sentence of death on innocent men."
"It is the sentence of this court that the committee and the sheriff of this yar court take you two prizners out of this place at once and hang you both till you are dead, dead, dead!" said the judge, with a fierce emphasis on the last word.
[CHAPTER XXX.—SURPRISE FOR HURLEY'S GULCH.]
On hearing the cruel sentence, something like a gasp of pain came from many of the men who most firmly believed in the guilt of the prisoners.
No man can ever become so degraded and hardened as not to be moved by the approaching death of even a perfect stranger.
Badger alone was delighted at having something to do with the trial, for it was the sheriff's duty to attend to the execution.
With the death of these two men, the work which he had pledged Shirley to do would be completed.
More than this, with the death of these two men he felt that all danger to himself would vanish and all suspicion be allayed.
"It's mighty hard lines, Mr. Willett," said Hank Tims as he shook his fellow-prisoner's hand, "but one has to die sooner or later, and it should comfort you and me at this time to know that we can leave this world and stand in the presence of the Great Master and Chief of all, feelin' that we ain't never done anythin' that should bring a blush of shame to our cheeks nor a pang of regret to the friends as is left behind."