“Thet were a keepsake, given me as a partin’ present from Kent King. Arter he hed gi’n me his gold an’ dimints, an’ I fotched him his saddle, he jist tapped me on ther head, ter get back his wealth, I reckon. But ther boys must hev crowded him too fast.” “And you found this belt of gold upon him, Tabor?” “Yes, Captain Dash; and seeing it in my hand when he came to, Poker Dick told me all.” “You know the forfeit for one of our band to become a traitor, sir?” and Captain Dash turned sternly upon the prisoner. “I does, cap’n; it are death,” was the firm reply. “Dick, never would I have suspected you of such an act. Your temptation was great; but you have set free a man whose life has been one long crime, and who injured me deeply, and is now at liberty to harm those I care for. That he will do so, if in his power, I know full well. I must start on his trail before it is too late.” “He said he were going ter Santa Fe, cap’n, for thar he would be on ekil terms with you!” “Those are the terms I wish to meet him on; but now to the crime you have committed.” Captain Dash looked the traitor squarely in the face. “Yas, cap’n. I is list’nin’.” “You have kindred living at Austin, I believe?” “Ther old folks live thar, cap’n. My father an’ my mother, an’ I hes a leetle brother o’ seventeen.” “This gold I will send to them, and put with it a hundred dollars of my own, and I know the boys will do the same.” “I’ll give a hundred, cap’n,” said Ben Tabor. “And I’ll chip in ther same,” put in Seven-foot Harry. “All that is added will go to your parents, Dick; they shall never know that you were a traitor, but believe you were killed by Kent King, instead of wounded.” “You intends ter kill me, then, cap’n?” “You know the forfeit is death.” “Yas; ther’s no gittin’ round thet, an’ I desarves it; but yer’ll send ther old folks ther gold, fer they depends on me ter keep ther pot b’ilin’.” “Yes; but the diamonds I will keep for a special purpose.” “You kin hev ’em, cap’n. I s’pose they is mine, seein’ as I made a swap with the gambler fer ’em; but when is I ter hev my chips called in, cap’n?” “I will soon tell you; and Dick, if I can save you I will, as you have confessed all, and from my heart I pity you. Harry, you and Ben remain here until I return.” “I’ll not attempt ter skip, cap’n; but ther boys hed better stay, so as yer’ll feel yer’ve got me,” called out the prisoner, as Captain Dash walked away toward the camp fire, around which the other members of the band were gathered. With eager eyes, staring as a starving man at food he could not touch, Poker Dick watched Captain Dash as he joined the band of Texans. He saw them gather around the captain in an excited way, while the bright firelight falling upon their faces told that they were listening to the story of his crime.