At last, one of the men, who had but one arm, started off from the others, hurrying toward the horses. Bill had thrust something into this man's hand, seeming to give him a final admonition. Five minutes later the one-armed man, mounted on the very best horse he could find, rode away at good speed.
Even then Merry did not conceive that it was the desperate purpose of One-hand Hank to follow those papers all the way to Fardale, if necessary, in the attempt to gain possession of them. He fancied that Hank meant to try to find the Indian, with the hope that the papers still remained in old Joe's possession.
Bill came back and stood looking Merriwell over. Several of the men had departed toward the spot where the horses were kept.
"I reckons you thinks yerself some slick, kid!" he[Pg 34] said, with cold contempt. "You'll git all over that before you're through dealin' with Cimarron Bill. I'm sartin to take the conceit out of ye a whole lot."
To which Merry vouchsafed no retort.
"Bring him along," said the chief, to Sam and Monte. "We're goin' to pull up stakes and hike."
So Frank was marched up to the horses, among which was his own animal, which had been captured by the ruffians.
"If you don't mind, gentlemen," said Merry, "it would give me considerable satisfaction to imbibe a little water."
"You'll choke plumb to death afore ye ever gits a drap from me," averred Sam.
Whereupon Bill looked at the red-head sharply, saying: