The knot at each ankle was skillfully looped in cowboy fashion, and
under the watchful eyes of "Red" there was no chance to unfasten them.
His knife and pistol had been taken from him, as well as his watch and
money. So thoroughly had he been "frisked" that, as he felt his pockets
carelessly, he found that nothing had been left except a bunch of keys
that the rustlers had disdained as booty, and a convex piece of glass
that belonged to an old telescope that he had been taking apart a day or
two before.
As his hand came in contact with it a thought sprang into his mind that
sent his pulses leaping in wild delirium. Could he do it? Why not?
Without any pretence of concealment he drew it with the keys from his
pocket and fingered it idly, looking out of the window as though his
thoughts were far away. "Red" looked at the articles, recognized their
harmless character, and with an indifferent grunt went on smoking.
The fierce sun of the dog days was coming hotly through the open window.
Still handling the glass dreamily, Bert brought it in such a position
that its convex surface gathered the rays of the sun into one blistering
shaft.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241