Not for one instant had he failed to keep Dick covered, and to have attempted to escape from him would have surely meant death.
“Now, sit down there, boy, and listen to me,” said Mudd, pointing to a big flat stone; “and before I begin to talk I’ll tell you one thing. I am going to shoot you dead at the first move you make toward escaping; do you understand?”
“I do,” replied Dick. “I’m badly shaken up, Mr. Mudd. I am going to sit still here for a while. You might just as well put your revolver up. I shan’t attempt to escape.”
“Come, now, that’s sensible.”
“I try to be sensible at all times.”
“So do I, boy. I am going to be sensible now. I’m going to try to come to terms with you once for all. If I fail now, I shall never try again, and you will probably be shot by the order of Colonel Tom Eglinton, whom I expect here in twenty minutes’ time.”
Dick was silent. He did not know whether to believe this or not. He did not know what to say, so he said nothing at all.
“I see you don’t believe me,” continued Mudd; “but it is true, just the same. I have sent for Eglinton, and he is coming down here to ransom his daughter. Perhaps you wonder how I dare to meet him alone, and if you do, look behind you. Ha! Ha! We were all drunk a while ago, but we are all sober enough to attend to business now. You ought to have finished up your work at the hut, young fellow. You and your friend, Doctor Dan.”
There they sat in the back of the cave, the same old gang.
Each man had his rifle lying across his knees; they were silent and motionless, but Dick saw that they were ready for business just the same.