"Sam Willett lives and he has the paper!"
"And these men shall not die, if me and my friends can help it, and we're inclined to think we can!" thundered Collins, as he drew Mr. Willett and Hank back from the platform and severed the cords that bound their arms.
"And my boy still lives?" cried Mr. Willett, as he reached out his hands to Ulna.
"Yes, he lives; I left him this morning, and——"
Mr. Willett heard no more.
The resolute heart that could face death without a tremor, was all overcome by this joyous revelation, and he fell fainting to the ground.
"That's a Ute lie!" hissed Badger, to whose side Frank Shirley had come, pale and trembling.
While Hank and Si Brill were restoring Mr. Willett to consciousness, Collins called out:
"We'll see if it's a lie. Come, Ulna, my boy, tell us all about it, and if any man tries to stop you I'll give him a chance to bite the end off my revolver."
The coming of the young Ute, being unexpected, caused more of a sensation than the execution of the prisoners would have done.