"I reckon you won't see him right smart. When I git through with you
I'm going to send a bullet through your head. Maybe they'll find you
here. If they do they'll know what it means, I reckon."
Ned's face paled slightly. There was that in the eyes of the man before
him which, all at once, told Ned Rector that the fellow meant what
he said.
"Who do you think we are?" demanded the boy earnestly.
"You're part of the Ranger gang."
"The what?"
"The gang known as the Texas Rangers."
Rector laughed.
"You've got it wrong this time. We are not Texas Rangers. We are
known as the Pony Riders and we are out for our health and as good a
time as we can have."
"Ye can't fool me. That line of talk don't go down at all I'll tell
you what. Bill McKay thought to trap some folks by getting in a bunch
that wasn't known down in these parts. I had his little game sized up
the minute I set eyes on your bunch. But I'll clip your claws. I'll
show McKay that we ain't so easy. Now you out with the whole story.
If you tell it straight, I may think about letting you go. If you lie
it's the end of you. I'd as lief shoot you full of holes as I would
a yellow dog. Now what's your orders?"
"I haven't any orders, I tell you."
"What did Bill McKay reckon you would do down here?"
"I don't know Bill McKay, I don't know any Texas Rangers, and if they
are anything like you and your kind, I don't want to know them.
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