Slowly Bill opened his hand, saying “Twenty-two” as he did so. A careful count told that he had guessed the exact number of the pebbles!
“I knowed it war to be thus,” he said, slowly, and stepped back looking to the priming of his rifle.
Jules Bardue faced him with pallid countenance, and wildly beating heart!
He knew that the end of his bloody life was at hand.
The spectators shrunk from the doomed man, and turned their eyes upon his executioner.
For a moment the hunter’s eyes glanced along the polished barrel, and then a jet of fire leaped from the bore.
The Yellow Bloodhound shrieked, and dropped to the ground—stone-dead!
“I told ye that nothin’ but a bullet atween the eyes would finish ’im,” said Doc Bell, turning to the spectators, “an’ he’s got it at last!”
For a moment silence reigned, and then the cry of “Mercy” echoed throughout the cavern.
It came from John Williamson’s throat, and Bob Somerville sprung forward to save him from the Peoria’s vengeance.