Intuitively each man felt they had captured one of the raiders, and without waiting for instructions, closed in on him in a circle, completely cutting off any chance for escape.
"Who are you and what are you doing, sneaking along in the grass ?" demanded Mr. Wilder sternly.
"I'm Bobby Lawrence, and I was hunting for my tobacco pouch," returned the fellow, undaunted by the angry faces gazing at him.
"That's the name of one of Megget's right-hand men," declared
Nails. "I found that out at Tolopah."
With no gentle hands half a dozen of the cowboys searched Lawrence, taking from him his pistols and a long knife.
When their prisoner was harmless Mr. Wilder resumed his questions.
"Who set the fire last night?"
"If I play fair with you, will you treat me square?" demanded
Lawrence.
"That depends," temporized the ranch owner. "You belong to the gang that has been raiding my herds and last night tried to destroy us by fire. You can't expect much leniency from us under the circumstances. Still, if you give us any assistance in founding up Megget, we'll not forget it."
"Well, I'll do all I can, honest I will, Mr. Wilder."