That instant of indecision was fatal. Dorales pushed back his chair and came to his feet, one hand sliding to his coat pocket. Too late! The big fingers of Thady Shea gripped down on his wrist, and Shea’s right hand took him by the left shoulder, and he was staring into the blazing black eyes of the man he had thought to cheat.
“I am glad to meet you, friend Dorales!” A grim smile sat on Shea’s wide lips. “The airy tongues that syllable men’s names have borne to me your rightful cognomen.”
Dorales writhed under that iron grip. His left hand drove up to Shea’s face, landed hard. From his lips broke a shout for aid.
Under the blow, Shea staggered; he knew nothing of fighting. He did know, however, that the shout of Dorales would bring the two Mexicans, and the knowledge fired him. He merely threw himself bodily and blindly at Dorales and carried the latter to the floor.
Luck was kind. Dorales, trying not to fall underneath, writhed aside; the impetus of Shea’s rush, or rather fall, threw Abel Dorales headlong against the wall and knocked him senseless.
After a moment Shea realized that Dorales was knocked out, relaxed his iron grip, and rose. His first thought was to turn out the lamp. Then, taking from the corner the axe helve, Shea passed outside the shack. He discerned two figures running toward him in the starlight, and he strode at them.
The two natives were not at all sure of what had been going on. They called to Shea, who made no answer but came steadily at them. Hesitant, they awaited his approach, again addressing him in English. For response, Shea heaved up the axe helve and struck the nearer man senseless.
Here was answer enough. The second man whipped up a ready revolver and fired hastily; too hastily, for the bullet only whipped Shea’s lean cheek and passed over the hogback. An instant later the axe helve broke the man’s arm.
“Be quiet!” commanded Shea; then considered that the groaning wretch could not well obey such an order with a smashed arm. “Go down and climb into your automobile. Wait there.”
“Si, señor.” The native turned and went into the night, groaning.