"I say I believe that you lie, but giving you the benefit of the doubt, and giving you half a chance for your life, I will accept your proposition."
"You will take half and let me go—"
"No, no, not that; I will fight you to the death, the best man to win. We'll see whether chance will be on the side of the law or the lawless."
"You don't mean it!"
"You are surprised?"
"Yes."
"You take me for a fool, I know, and so I am for giving you such a chance; but there is the bare possibility that you are telling the truth concerning the chance you would have given me."
"Yes, yes, I swear that I was telling the truth—that I did—that I am telling the truth!"
"Very well, I give you the benefit of the doubt."
Deadwood Dick believed that the fellow was lying, nevertheless, and so, in fact, he was. Seeing a chance to gain the point, he played upon the string to the limit.