“Stand ’em up against the wall and let’s have a look at ’em!” commanded the rancher, and after this had been done, and one of the cowboys had held a lantern up to their faces, Bindloss squinted at them frowningly. “Any of you fellows know these critters?”
Each cowpuncher stepped up and took a long, stern look at the faces and shook his head.
“I reckon you two bit off more’n you could chew, eh? Who are ye?” demanded Bindloss.
The captives, now sullen-faced, made no reply.
“What happened that you two are hog-tied in my house?”
“Ain’t no use fer to ask questions ’cause you ain’t goin’ to git no answers,” growled one.
“I’ll tell ye what happened,” spoke up the other captive. “We was ridin’ by, an knowin’ thet you-all was down the range, seen somethin’ was goin’ on in heah an’ we jest come up to look in, an’ got a crack on the haid. Thet’s all.”
“You’re a liar!” blazed Joe Bindloss, drawing back a clenched fist as if to strike the man, but the fist slowly relaxed and his face grew calm again. “You’ll talk before I git done with you, I promise you that. When the man in there wakes up, if he ever does, I’ll hear the truth. If he dies I’ll shoot every man in these ranges if I have to do so to git the right ones, and I’ll begin with you, you sneaking coyotes! Take ’em out and tie ’em in the barn. And, boys, fix ’em so they can’t get away. If there’s any rough stuff to be pulled off, I’ll do the pulling. Understand?”
The cowpunchers nodded and picked up the prisoners. When outside the door the man at the head of each prisoner dropped his burden and the cowboy at the foot dragged his captive by the feet all the way to the stable. Sam Conifer followed and stood gazing at the prisoners as the cowmen were re-tying them. He was positive that he had seen one of the ruffians before, but could not place him.
While this was going on, Jim, who had procured a lantern and browsed about the ranch, returned to the house. Bindloss was in the room with Lieutenant Wingate at the moment, watching the Overland girls work over him. Hearing Jim enter, he stepped out.