“Is this true, colonel?” asked Benson.
“Yes, it is,” answered Col. Warner, with some hesitation. “I was robbed, with the rest. I had four hundred dollars in my wallet, and the road agent made off with it.”
“And yet you just now pooh-poohed the idea of a robbery, and said such things were gone by.”
“I say so now,” returned the colonel, sullenly. “I have a good deal of money with me, but I am willing to take my chances.”
“Doubtless. Your money would be returned to you, in all probability, if, as we have reason to believe, you have a secret understanding with the thieves who infest this part of the country.”
“Your words are insulting. Let go my arm, sir, or it will be the worse for you.”
“Softly, softly, my good friend,” said the German. “Have you any proposal to make, Mr. Melville?”
“Only this. Let us proceed on our journey, but let each man draw his revolver, and be ready to use it, if need be.”
“What about the colonel?”
“He must go along with us. We cannot have him communicating with our enemies outside.”