For the moment he hesitated.

Then, as the figure below passed from his sight, under the point of the spur, he slipped quietly down the mountainside, and, a few minutes later, met the convict face to face.
At the leveled rifle and the sharp command, "Hands up," the poor fellow halted with a gesture of tragic despair.

An instant they stood; then the hunted one turned impulsively toward the canyon that, here, lies almost a sheer thousand feet below.
James Rutlidge spoke sharply.

"Don't do that.

I'm not an officer.