It was fearless, defiant, and bright.
For several moments the twain fought the silent eye battle, then the boy withdrew from the contest.
“Good-by, Rosebud,” he said. “If we ever meet again, it will be when I come after my rope.”
The next instant the word “Avenger!” sharply spoken, fell from the youth’s lips, and the captive’s horse leaped forward, startled by the sudden blow of Red Crest’s tomahawk handle.
Suddenly Deadly Dan was jerked from his saddle, and as his horse bounded away he shot up into space like an ascending rocket, actually hung by his own horse.
Not far away the animal executioner had stopped. The rope that led from his girth to the beam above was tightly stretched, far from the other end hung the body of the Wolf of the Rosebud.
One-half of his figure was in the moonlight, the rest swayed to and fro in the shadow of the beam.
Judge Lynch, Jr., sprung to the ground, and with Red Crest’s help loosened the lengthy lasso which they again made fast, but this time to a large rock at the foot of the canyon wall.
Then the Indian leaped upon the horse just relieved from duty, and the two prepared to gallop away.
“A last good-by, Rosebud,” said the boy judge, looking at the ghastly figure above.