Old Jack’s hand dropped from the cord, and his horse sprung forward. Then bang! bang went two more pistols, as the pebbles were loosened by the iron-shod feet, and the victim of the Thugs disappeared from view.
“But if Old Jack Drivewell gets over it, there’ll be a general settlement one of these days in Cut-throat Canyon. Now listen to me: we encountered a boy an’ a gal last night. You gave the beauty the string, but the boy got away. He is the chap I am looking for. Mind you, I am to settle with him. If you catch him—and catch him you must—you shall bring him to me. Do you understand?”
“We hear our chief,” said Lodgepole. “He shall give the boy the cord.”
“That is it,” cried Tom, delightedly. “We understand each other now.”
“And I understand you all, monsters!”
Quick as thought every Thug turned his face upward, for the voice had come from the star-kissing cliffs overhead.
The next instant a wild cry leaped from the throats of all, and the Thugs dodged shudderingly.
As for Tom Terror, he fairly shrieked as he ducked his unhandsome head, and the next second a stone which would have crushed a giant grazed his hat and was shivered on the bed of the canyon.
“Great Jove! missed by a hair!” gasped the Tiger, and the spurring that he administered to his horse carried him many rods from the almost fatal spot.