Patsy, with a perfect assumption of fright, fell upon his knees before the woman and raised his hands beseechingly to her.
And for a moment she looked down upon him with cold contempt in her eyes. It was evident to Nick, who was watching the scene narrowly, that she was coldly calculating the chances of letting him live, and that a breath upon the scales either way would decide her.
For a long time she remained in the same attitude, and then she raised her head and spoke to Handsome.
"When one in my position is in any doubt," she said coldly, "there is only one thing to do, and that is to give myself, not the other person, the benefit of the doubt. That is what I have decided to do, Handsome. Take him away."
"What shall I do with him?"
"Take him back to the cabin where he was tied up, and tie him up again. To-night, when the fires are lit, we will convene a court and try him. I will be the judge at that trial, and after it is over we will probably hang him. I see no other way. Take him away. Go."
CHAPTER XIV.
BLACK MADGE GIVES JUDGMENT.
It was a strange scene upon which the light of a huge camp fire shone that night, in the mountain retreat of the outlaws.