“Prob’ly,” went on the sentinel, “he was put onto the thing by them galoots,” and he pointed to Snell and his companion. “That’s it!” roared more than one, angrily. “So this is what ye call bein’ on the square, is it?” exclaimed the chief, turning to Snell’s companion, fiercely. “Ye make a deal to meet us here alone to talk business, and give the tip to a pryin’ detective, do ye? An’ do ye think ye’ll git outen it with hull skins? Wal, I don’t think!” The ruffians were growling angrily and watching their leader. It needed only his word to make every one of them empty their revolvers into Snell and his companion. Snell was horribly frightened. “I don’t know anything about this,” he stammered; “I give you my word of honor——” “Rats!” interrupted the leader, scornfully, “what’s your word of honor worth?” “Plug ’em full of holes!” cried another. The men raised their weapons, and it did look as if there would be a double murder on the spot. “He’s right!” said Patsy, quietly. The leader turned swiftly toward him. “What’s that ye say?” he demanded; “who’s right?” “The man who just spoke.” “Him?” pointing to Snell. “Yes. I don’t know who he is.” “And I s’pose ye don’t know him, nuther,” pointing to Snell’s companion. “I certainly don’t.” It was plain enough that nobody believed the detective, but he breathed easier. His interruption had gained time. The men were not so likely now to shoot in a hurry and ask questions afterward. Patsy had been set on the ground with his back to a rock. Snell’s companion was looking at him sharply. It was to him the leader spoke next. “I s’pose, Jim Leonard,” he said, “thet you’ve got a word of honor to stack up thet ye never seen this man afore, eh?” “He’s a stranger to me,” replied Leonard. “I never saw him before, and we took all the pains we could to keep from being followed. Snell’s been in town three days without seeing anybody who was on his track. Why should anybody be on his track, anyway?” “Why!” roared the leader, “to get us behind the bars, you fool! Ain’t that reason enough?” He turned again to the detective. “P’r’haps you’ll tell us how ye come here?” he said. “Certainly,” replied Patsy. “I saw these two men in town. It was plain enough that they had good business of some kind on. I took ’em for prospectors and thought they’d struck a good thing somewhere. It wasn’t a straight thing to do, but I followed ’em to see what they’d got.” This was a story that it was very easy for the rough Westerners to believe. Evidently they were struck by it, for they looked at each other doubtfully. All except the leader. He turned his eyes from Snell to his companion, and then to Patsy, and remarked, calmly: “You lie—every one of ye.” Then he addressed his men. “We won’t go off at half-cock,” said he; “these geezers hev done us dirt, but mebbe we’d better talk it over afore we do anything.” He spoke then to the sentinels.