As he spoke he edged imperceptibly nearer.
The beady eyes of the Mexican glittered like those of a rattlesnake.
“Zen ze Americano die,” he exclaimed angrily, “and O, how he weel die!” he added, smacking his lips gloatingly.
Like a battering ram Steve’s fist shot out and smashed the scoundrel straight between the eyes. The man went down to the floor with a crash. He struggled groggily to his feet and tried to draw a knife, but Dick wrenched it from his hand, and in a moment they had him bound fast with a cavalry belt that Tom snatched from a nail on the wall.
“Now, you skunk,” said Steve, “let me tell you something. You’re not going to get ten thousand dollars and you’re not going to get a cent. And what’s more, we know where the prisoner is and we’re starting out tonight to get him. And we’re going to get Espato too and wipe that camp of yours off the map. Sabe?”
If looks could kill, Steve would have been blasted on the spot by the hate that shot from the malignant eyes of the prisoner.
“Now, fellows,” Steve continued, “I know you’ll have to be hurrying but just take a minute and run over to the captain’s quarters and tell him we’ve got this reptile. He may be able to do something with him that will help you on this trip.”
“All right,” agreed Dick.
“And you’re the fellow that was growling just now because you weren’t going to be mixed up in this expedition,” laughed Tom. “Seems to me you’ve had considerable fun already.”
“Yes,” grinned Steve. “It sure has helped some. It’ll be a satisfaction as long as I live to think that I had a crack at this fellow. I’ve been aching to ever since he was here a week ago.”