Collins hesitated a moment and then asked:
"Why can't I come to you and sit down? I'm not armed. This is not an easy or a dignified position for me to hold."
"You say you are not armed," Ned replied. "Will you say as much for the savages who are with you in this dirty game?"
"There are no savages here with me," Collins protested. "Your Indian killed one by throwing him from the ledge, one was killed when the Vixen burned and dropped, and one was shot by one of your boys. The other went away with the motor car. You must have seen them riding away?"
"There were five people with him when he first came out here in the car," Jackson said, under his breath. "Ask him where the other white man now is."
"Did you see the other white man?" asked Ned of Jackson.
"Not distinctly."
"Would you have recognized him if it had been Lyman?"
"I might. I can't say. I wasn't very near to them. They kept me scouting over the hills to keep them in sight."
"Well," Collins called out, impatiently, "are you going to let me come in for a talk? If not, I'll go back and bring some shooters out here."