Around the man's neck was a noose and the other end of the rope was thrown over a bough of the tree.
"Oh," exclaimed Sammy, growing pale, "they're going to hang him!"
"Looks like it," said Frank with chattering teeth.
"It's awful!" exclaimed George. "He ought to have a trial anyhow."
In their excitement the boys had almost risen to their feet, and just at that moment some one under the tree caught sight of them and pointed them out to his companions.
"They've seen us!" cried Bob.
"We'd better skip out," said Frank.
"They'll be sore at us for being witnesses," declared Sammy. "They want to keep this thing among themselves. Let's get back to the river as fast as we can."
They jumped on their horses and rode pell-mell back to the shelter of the fringe of woods along the river bank.
They looked back and were relieved to find that no pursuers were in sight.