The sharp eyes of the boy had long since penetrated the disguises of the remaining masked men, and when the long, lank figure of the master's self-appointed second took up its position beneath the pines in full view of him, although hidden from the spectators, Johnny instantly recognized it to be none other than Seth Davis.

The manifest inconsistency of his appearance as Mr.Ford's second with what Johnny knew of his relations to the master was the one thing that firmly fixed the incident in the boy's memory.
The men were already in position.

Harrison stepped forward to give the word.

Johnny's down-hanging legs tingled with cramp and excitement.
Why didn't they begin?
What were they waiting for?
What if it were interrupted, or--terrible thought--made up at the last moment?
Would they "holler" out when they were hit, or stagger round convulsively as they did at the "cirkiss"?
Would they all run away afterwards and leave Johnny alone to tell the tale?
And--horrible thought!--would any body believe him?
Would Rupert?
Rupert, had he "on'y knowed this," he wouldn't have gone away.
"One"-- With a child's perfect faith in the invulnerable superiority of his friends, he had not even looked at the master, but only at his destined victim.

Yet as the word "two" rang out Johnny's attention was suddenly attracted to the surprising fact that the master's second, Seth Davis, had also drawn a pistol, and from behind his tree was deliberately and stealthily aiming at McKinstry! He understood it all now--he was a friend of the master's.