"And you'll not take action against me?"
"I reckon I've taken action enough," he smiled. "No, I'll never bother you if you keep away from me."
"Can I have my guns back?"
"No. And we're going to see if you have a rifle and if you have we're going to take that too."
"But—"
"No buts about it. I don't trust you not for a minute and we're not going to take any chances. You may as well know that we have all the guns of your friends which probably explains why they are not following us. And for that matter they may be and we figure that should you meet up with them and had a gun you'd be too dangerous. No, we'll leave the guns at Pete's store when we get back and you can get them any time."
Long made no further remonstrance and they searched his sled finding a rifle which they added to the others beneath their pack.
"So long," Mr. Lakewood cried as Lucky started his team.
But Long, who had already started made no reply.
"I guess he's sore," he chuckled.