"Hands up! your oath!"
Each man obeyed, the last man to draw holding his left hand aloft as his right was in a sling. Thus, with hand upraised, every man swore to a strict performance of his duty, taking upon himself the oath that if he held the red bean he would visit upon the traitor wherever found, whoever he might be, the punishment that a traitor's act justly merited, or that having failed in his oath, the same judgment he had withheld might be visited on himself who had foresworn his oath.
Then each man came singly before the captain, and opened the palm of the hand that both might know who held the fatal red bean.
The fire had been replenished and stirred into renewed brightness while the drawing was taking place, and as Steve came forward and opened his palm, a bright flame suddenly shot up from the fire, a slender, wavering torch, shedding a momentary light on the group, and on the two standing together.
As the captain and Steve looked downward into the latter's outstretched palm, each saw a round, red object lying there like a great drop of blood.
A TYPICAL NIGHT RIDER.