The Vigilantes looked at the boy.
“We can’t talk here,” Harry said. “Are you ready, Tom?”
“My boots ar’ on. Therefore, Tom Terror ar’ ready.”
Red Crest leaped forward at a sign from the boy, and the strong noose fell over the Tiger’s drooping head.
But vain, almost, was that long-delayed vengeance, for when the death noose tightened around Tom’s short stretch of throat, the soul of the ruffian had gone to be judged.
“Now for Myra!” cried the boy.
A scene totally unexpected greeted the eyes of the girl waif when she re-entered the cavern.
Stretched on the cot drawn close to the fire lay the body of a man whose face was haggard in the extreme. His eyes beaming with expectation, glittered intensely as the fair one appeared.
“I know it!” he exclaimed. “Ef I hev lost one big bonanza, I’ve found another; an’ one, too, all in one share. Jennie! Jennie! come an’ tell me thet the long-lost claim hes come back to Old Jack!”
The girl did not hesitate, and the next moment her gentle face was pressed to the rough cheek of the old driver.