"Sure thing."
"I don't remember. But I tried ter shoot ye. Bill said you was ter be shot ef you comes a-hustlin' back afore he gits around to doin' his part o' the job."
"You got the worst of it in that little piece of shooting, so we'll call that even."
"If you says even, I'm more'n willin'."
"Now," said Frank, "I'm going out with the men to watch for a second attack from Bill. I have to leave you, and some of the boys may take a fancy to hang you, after all. That bein' the case, I don't want to leave you so you won't have a show. Here, take this gun. With it you may be able to defend yourself until I can reach you. But don't shoot any one if you can help it, for after that I don't believe even I could save you."
So he placed a revolver in the hand of Big Monte and went out, leaving the wounded ruffians together.
When Frank was gone the two wounded wretches lay quite still for some time. Finally Pinto Pede stirred and looked at Big Monte.
"How you get shot?" he asked.
"The gent who jest went out done a part o' the job," said Monte, in reply.