“Isn’t, hey? Talk up, now, or--” He clutched the boy by the throat and shook him savagely. “You’ll answer me, an’ sudden, too!” Roy, his head spinning from the blow he had received, heard Teddy gasp in agony. He struggled to one elbow. “Let him alone, you coward!” he shouted, tears of rage coming to his eyes. “Let him up--” Bound as he was, he crawled nearer. Oblivious of consequences, realizing only that his brother was in pain, he kicked out with both feet, as hard as he could. They caught Jamisson in the small of his back, bowling him over, and causing him to release his hold on Teddy’s throat. “Thanks, Roy,” the boy gasped. “Guess this is the finish for both of us. So long--” Jamisson, inarticulate in his anger, leaped to his feet and drew his gun. “Try an’ stop this one!” he yelled. “I’ll blow you so far--” Without a word Peterson stooped, picked up a stick, and brought it down solidly on Jamisson’s gun arm. The weapon fell to the ground. “When I say a thing, I mean it,” he said calmly. “There’ll be no gun-play. You got only what you deserved. What good would choking him do? Now you pipe down. Get over on the other side of the fire. I’m not going to have this deal spoiled by you, just because you can’t keep your temper. Jerry, watch him. If he starts anything let him have it.” He stopped, and Jamisson, like a beaten dog, walked slowly away. “That’s it. Now you pay attention to me, you two boys.” He motioned to the others to move to one side, so that he might have a clear view of the captives. “You know me,” he continued. “And now you know something else, and that is that we’re after some cattle of your father’s. I suppose you heard our plans. No use trying to pretend any longer. I aim to get the cattle, and that forfeit, too, when he can’t deliver. Figure out why I’m telling you this?” Teddy shook his head. He could not trust himself to reply. “It’s because you’ll never make use of the information until it’s too late. Oh, don’t get scared--I don’t mean any killing. We’re not all fools.” He glanced toward Jamisson. “But we’ll keep you tied up here until the whole thing is finished. Ginger, you’ll have to stay and guard ’em. Reckon you won’t mind that. Relieves you of a lot of work.” Ginger grinned, and nodded. “After two or three days we’ll turn you loose.” “You going to keep ’em here?” Bill Lefton asked in surprise. “Well, where else? What’s the matter with this place?” “It’s too near their friends, that’s what’s the matter with it! We’ll have to shift ’em. There’s a spot four miles from here in the timber where they won’t be found for ten years. I say we drag ’em over.” Peterson paused, and thought. “You’re right,” he said finally. “That means we’ll have to start now. Come on, break camp. Bill, bring up the broncs. Where are your ponies?” He looked intently at Roy.