"This man wasn't under any seech impression, kiddie."
"How do you know?"
"Wall, in the first place it wasn't a doe and in the second place the fellow killed it himself, I reckon," drawled the stranger.
"May I ask who you are?"
"That doesn't cut any figure."
"It may cut more than you think."
"What do you mean?" demanded the stranger, peering angrily at Tad.
"That I am going to have that deer if I have to hold up every man in the canebrake," was Tad's firm reply.
"I reckon you've got your work out out for you," chuckled the fellow.
Tad gave him another look, and swung down from his stirrup.