"We got a five spot between us for catching the old man and tying him up. And we are to get five each for this."
"Your master isn't very generous. Do you often work for Kie Wicks?" asked Bet.
"No, we never saw him before. We were just passing through the country. We went broke and he offered us this job."
"Where are you going from here?" demanded the girl.
"El Paso is home, and we want to work our way toward there," answered the man who had done all the talking.
"Suppose I was to offer you ten apiece, would you get away from here and not come back? In fact it wouldn't be good for you to come back where Kie Wicks could take a shot at you."
"We'd not stick around, honest we wouldn't. By night we'd be at the nearest railroad station." Both men made a motion to come toward the girls but were stopped by Bet's menacing weapon.
"All right, go to the edge of the cliff there, and stand with your backs to us. If you dare to turn around, you'll be dead men."
The ruffians backed away for a few feet, then turned and walked to the cliff.
"Halt!" shouted Bet, and the men stood still.