"Duck him in the kettle," cried a score of voices.
Acting on the suggestion, the famous desperado lifted his victim from the ground and doused him in the tar.
But as he was thrust down into the cauldron, Consollas made a ferocious grab for his tormentor.
And this time his fingers clutched the hair in Jesse's false beard.
Releasing his hold of his coat, the bandit-chieftain seized his wrists in such a terrible grip, boring his spike like thumbs between the cords, that the lad let go with a shriek of agony.
The wires by which the whiskers were attached had held yet the sudden yank had drawn the beard from Jesse's face for an instant before he could bend forward and end the strain.
"A—ha!" exclaimed a voice, amazed and gloating, behind him.
Only Frank and Clell were close to him and the ejaculation made Jesse start.
With a suppressed oath, he whirled to see who had uttered it.