"What are you doing in my shack?"
"I reckoned I'd cage a few more moccasins for your menagerie. Put down that gun and I'll talk to you."
Pete laughed. He observed that Lilly's revolver was not in its holster. As a matter of fact, the guide had removed it, keeping it in his hand in case of a surprise, and in looking into Pete's belongings he had had occasion to lay the weapon down. The later interruption came so quickly and unexpectedly that Billy did not think of his revolver until too late to recover it. He knew the man before him. It was Alligator Pete in reality, and Pete was in a white rage.
"I reckon I'll put down the gun when I get ready and not before," answered the "Alligator." "What are you doing in my shack?"
"I'll answer that question by asking you one. What do you mean by interfering with my party?"
"I haven't."
"You have. You stole a doe that one of them shot."
"Oh, I did, eh?" sneered Pete.
"You know you did, but that wasn't all. You laid a false trail over the bear sign hoping to call the wolves. You knew they would attack my dogs. You planned it all, you miserable whelp! You see I know all about it. It's lucky for you that I haven't got my pistol. I'd shoot you where you stand!" Lilly's voice was calm but incisive.
"I reckon I'd have something to say about that; I reckon this gun might go off before yours did. I reckon it may go off as it is."