play, money at the tape. You're his trainer, and it's your fault if he ain't fit when he toes the mark. Understand?" Willie lowered the muzzle of his weapon, and fired between the legs of Glass, who leaped into the air with all the grace of a gazelle. It was due to no conscious action on his part that the trainer leaped; his muscles were stimulated spasmodically, and propelled him from the floor. At the same time his will was so utterly paralyzed that he had no control over his movements; he did not even hear the yell that burst from his throat as his lungs contracted; he merely knew that he was in the supremest peril, and that flight was futile. Therefore he undertook to steady himself. Every tissue of his body seemed to creep and crawl. The flesh inside his legs was quivering, the close-cropped hair of his thick neck rose and prickled, and his capacious abdomen throbbed and pulsated like a huge bowl of jelly. He laid his hands upon it to still the disturbance. Then he became conscious that he had bitten his pipe-stem in two and swallowed the end. He felt it sticking in his throat. "Did you hear what I said?" demanded Willie, in a voice that sounded like the sawing of a meat bone. Glass opened his mouth, and when no sound issued, nodded. "And you understand?" Again the trainer bobbed his head. The pipe-stem had cut off all power of speech, and he knew himself dumb for life. "Then I guess that's all. It's up to you." Willie replaced his gun, and the fat man threatened to fall. "Come on, boys!" The cowboys filed out silently, but on the threshold Willie paused and darted a venomous glance at his enemy. "Don't forget what I said about Mr. Colt and the equality of man." "Yes, sir!--yes, ma'am!" ejaculated the frightened trainer, nervously. When they were gone he collapsed. "They are rather severe, aren't they?" ventured Fresno. "Severe!" cried the unhappy man. "Why, Speed can't--" He was about to explain everything when the memory of Willie's words smote him like a blow. That fiend had threatened to kill him, Lawrence Glass, without preliminary if it became evident that a fraud had been practiced. Manifestly this was no place for hysterical confidences. Larry's mouth closed like a trap, while the Californian watched him intently. At length he did speak, but in a strangely softened tone, and at utter variance with his custom.