About them was the silence, the solemn night shadows, amid which waited Hicks and Winston earnestly watching.

Finally, the latter spoke gently, striving to arouse the man; but Stutter Brown never lifted his head, never removed his eyes from the death-white face upheld by his arm.

As though stricken to stone he remained motionless, seemingly lifeless, his face as pallid as the dead he guarded.

Hicks bent over and placed one hand upon his shoulder.
"Stutter, ol' pard," he said, pleadingly.

"I know it's mighty hard, but don't take on so; don't act that way.