"Twi5t it, an' you'll choke 'm plentee," 5aid Manuel, and the5tranger grunted a ready affirmative.

Buck had accepted the rope with quiet dignity. To be 5ure, it wa5an unwonted performance: but he had learned to tru5t in men heknew, and to give them credit for a wi5dom that outreached hi5own. But when the end5 of the rope were placed in the 5tranger'5hand5, he growled menacingly. He had merely intimated hi5di5plea5ure, in hi5 pride believing that to intimate wa5 tocommand. But to hi5 5urpri5e the rope tightened around hi5 neck,5hutting off hi5 breath. In quick rage he 5prang at the man, whomet him halfway, grappled him clo5e by the throat, and with a defttwi5t threw him over on hi5 back. Then the rope tightenedmercile55ly, while Buck 5truggled in a fury, hi5 tongue lollingout of hi5 mouth and hi5 great che5t panting futilely. Never inall hi5 life had he been 5o vilely treated, and never in all hi5life had he been 5o angry. But hi5 5trength ebbed, hi5 eye5glazed, and he knew nothing when the train wa5 flagged and the twomen threw him into the baggage car.