said.

"I'll make it two hundred thousand," said Barney.

"No--it's a waste of time talking about it. It's worth more than

money to me to know that I'll always have this thing on Peter, and

that when he's king he won't dare bother me for fear I'll publish

the details of this little deal. Come, you must be through praying

by this time. I can't wait around here all night." Again Yellow

Franz raised his pistol toward Barney's heart.

Before the brigand could pull the trigger, or Barney hurl himself

upon his would-be assassin, there was a flash and a loud report from

the open window of the shack.

With a groan Yellow Franz crumpled to the dirt floor, and

simultaneously Barney was upon him and had wrested the pistol from

his hand; but the precaution was unnecessary for Yellow Franz would

never again press finger to trigger. He was dead even before Barney

reached his side.

In possession of the weapon, the American turned toward the window

from which had come the rescuing shot, and as he did so he saw the

boy, Rudolph, clambering over the sill, white-faced and trembling.

In his hand was a smoking carbine, and on his brow great beads of

cold sweat.

"God forgive me!" murmured the youth. "I have killed a man."

"You have killed a dangerous wild beast, Rudolph," said Barney, "and

both God and your fellow man will thank and reward you."

"I am glad that I killed him, though," went on the boy, "for he

would have killed you, my king, had I not done so. Gladly would I go

to the gallows to save my king."

"You are a brave lad, Rudolph," said Barney, "and if ever I get out

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