"I don't want to be inquisitive, but—-"
"No, it isn't considered good manners to be too curious down in this country, I've heard."
"Right you are, yonnker," laughed Withem, in which the others joined heartily. "Men have been known to get into trouble by being too curious, especially down on the Rio Grande. The——-"
The visitor's conversation was interrupted by something falling over from beside the tree against which he was sitting. That something was the rifle the boys had taken from the prisoner.
Withem picked up the gun with the purpose of replacing it. He was just standing it against the tree when suddenly he stopped, bringing the gun around in front of him where he could get a better view of it.
The Pony Rider Boys were regarding him questioningly, Tad almost suspiciously. Chunky was wondering if their visitor was going to shoot. The fat boy was ready to run at the first sign of trouble. He had stopped enough bullets for one day. As for the prisoner, his bloodshot eyes were taking in every movement of the man Withem.
"You seem to be much interested," suggested Tad.
Withem flashed a keen, searching look into Butler's face.
"I am."
"Why that's——-" began Walter, then subsided at a warning look from Tad.