The truth of the matter was that Adele Pierrepont and her brother, Mason, stood between Luke Camden, the duelist and an immense fortune, and the idea of getting rid of the two had only entered his head when he heard through the giant that the girl had already been carried away. Red Goliath proved a true traitor. He had tracked his treacherous companion all the way from the plains of Texas to the pastures in the north, where the white man joined teams with Sitting Bull's gang of plunderers and thieves, where his merits in the peculiar line of business he dealt in were duly appreciated. No wonder, then, that the creole shivered in dread when he saw the man whom he had attempted to murder standing before him with a deadly revolver in his hand, and cruel vengeance flashing from his eyes. At first Pedro's hands failed to do their duty, and hung limp by his sides. "Aha! it is thus we meet, my fine chicken," said the giant, who evidently had a tinge of the dramatic in his nature. By the light of the torch it could now be seen that his hair and beard gave rise to the first half of his name, being of a fiery hue. His eyes were small and deep-set, glittering like a snake's. Pedro Sanchez was actually too frightened to say a word in answer to this implied question. He could only stand and glare like a wild beast at bay and powerless to help itself. The giant seemed rather talkative in his triumph. "Pushed Red Goliath down a gulch, half a mile deep. Thought he'd die like a rat in its hole. Aha! my fine fellow, bushes are great inventions; thanks to them I am here now--here to claim my vengeance. Five thousand dollars tempted you, did it? Well, I want to tell you I'm offered double as much to keep the gal away forever: kill her if I like. Now, Brutus, your time has about come. Are you ready to meet your just doom?" Pedro was shivering as only a man can who sees instant death before him, and his chattering teeth precluded the possibility of a reply. The giant smiled derisively, and turned his eyes on Hoskins. At this critical period the individual proved himself the possessor of more courage than the boasting creole. Perhaps this arose from his ignorance of the giant's power, which Pedro was well acquainted with. "Who the deuce are you that comes breaking into a man's house, and talking about doom and all that sort of thing? By George! I've a notion to----" began Hoskins in a blustering tone, but he came to an abrupt pause, for the giant seeing where it was most needed had swung the revolver around until it covered his form. "You're mistaken. You haven't any notion at all, and it'll be better for your health if you don't have any. Asked me what I came here for; you invited me; declared you would like to see the man that was going to take the gal from you, so I showed myself. Now, my rooster, what's what with you?" Hoskins seemed to have some spirit in him at any rate.