The two prisoners were moaning, like men in physical pain, for they were cowards at heart. Then they began to plead for mercy. But as well might they have appealed to the cliffs about them as to that crowd, for while some there were doubtless merciful, they were too greatly in the minority to dare speak what they felt.
The ropes were thrown over the beam, which was greased, and, at a signal from the judge, the twelve men upon each line drew their victims up into mid-air, silencing their cries for mercy.
Then, back from Hangman’s Gulch surged the crowd, laughing and talking as they went over the affair, and it was generally agreed that Pocket City would be the better for the hanging.
The Vigilante captain felt that he had done his duty, so repaired to his store in a very self-satisfied humor, while Buffalo Bill accompanied him for a short time, and began, in a quiet way, to question him about Bonnie Belle.
All he could learn was the fact that not a man in Yellow Dust Valley was there to say one word against her, all holding her as above reproach. Nothing was known of her antecedents, and there was not the slightest suspicion that she was connected in any way with the road-agents under Silk Lasso Sam.
She had gone East upon some business of her own, the storekeeper said, and Deadshot Dean, the miner, had been her escort, and, not aware that the latter was a married man, Scott Kindon hinted that he believed there was a strong feeling of friendship between the two. This might result in marriage, and the “judge” hoped that it would, as the miner was a splendid fellow in his opinion.
Then, learning that the driver of the stage-coach was in Pocket City that night, Buffalo Bill sought him out. He found him at the Devil’s Den, having just won all the money at poker which his adversary had.
He greeted the scout pleasantly, said that he had come in a couple of hours before, and was glad to feel that the trail was free of outlaws.
“I wish to ask you, Pard Sandy, something about Bonnie Belle?” said Buffalo Bill.
At once Sandy was all attention.