But I
do want to tell you that if you don't let me go---that if you heap any
more insults on me---it is you who will get a bullet through your
miserable hide. I'm getting mad, Mr. Man."
"Oho! Ye be, eh?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then I reckon there's only one thing to do to put ye in a better frame
of mind," answered the mountaineer, shifting his rifle about
suggestively. "Now I'll give ye two minutes to open up and tell all ye
know," was the stern announcement.
In the meantime Tad Butler had not been idle. As the reader already
knows, Tad had been deceived as to the location of the shot. He had
gone a long distance out of his course. After a time he realized this
and at once started back toward the plain. It was his intention to
make the opening where they had first sought to make camp, as it was
there or in that vicinity that he was to meet Ned Rector.
The lad settled down to a trot. Every faculty was on the alert, for
Butler was a natural woodsman, added to which was an experience of
some two or three years in mountain and on plain until Tad was familiar
with many of the tricks of the mountaineer.
Suddenly the boy halted and stood with head thrown back sniffing the
air.
"Smoke!" breathed Tad. "There is a fire somewhere near here. That
means some one is in camp here. I can't be far from the edge now.
I must find out where the fire is.
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