"I have a suspicion that it is," was the reply of Sterry, laughing quite heartily as he lowered his hands.
"Who is your friend?" he asked, moving around to gain a better view of the rustler.
"Ah, that's the man we're looking for," added Hendricks a moment later; "he's Duke Vesey, the partner of the late Jack Perkins."
"You are right," Sterry hastened to say, "but he is under the protection of a flag of truce."
"A flag of truce!" repeated the other; "where is it?"
"I gave him my pledge to shield him against you folks, as he agreed to do if your party had proven to be his friends."
"Well, that's a queer state of affairs," laughed the other, not forgetting to keep guard of the prisoner, who was permitted to lower his hands. The other stockmen were equally alert, now that there was but one man to watch, so that Vesey was really as helpless as though deprived of all his weapons.
"I do not see what is so queer about it," replied Sterry, warmly; "we heard you coming and moved off out of sight. Before doing so Vesey pledged himself to stand by me against any of his friends, if it became necessary, and I promised to do the same for him. The issue shows that it is my privilege to keep my promise—that's all."
It was plain that Hendricks felt himself in a quandary. He had been sent out to capture the two men under the supposition that they were rustlers. It was proved that one of them was the very individual whom Capt. Asbury was anxious to secure. To release him after taking him prisoner would place his captor in anything but a pleasant situation with his leader.
Suspecting his dilemma, Sterry said: