“Guess yuh better stop a while, sonny,” sneered the voice of the white man. “Feel like answerin’ that question now?”
“I haven’t any question to answer,” retorted Dick, looking straight at his tormentor, and then at the three half-breeds, a villainous-appearing trio, who stood ready and eager to leap forward at the first word of command.
The white man stepped forward and confronted Dick, one arm raised threateningly.
“Yuh better do some quick thinkin’ afore I whale the tar outta yuh. Are yuh gonna answer that question or not?”
In the short interval in which he stood there undecided, a daring plan leaped into Dick’s mind. He would feign submission. He would agree to answer the question. Then when the time came—
“All—all right,” stammered Dick, simulating terror. “Wh-what do you want?”
“Yuh know blamed well what I want. Back there at the post ’bout an hour er two ago, you wuz figgerin’ on givin’ that danged mountie a whole earful o’ information. I heerd yuh tellin’ these young friends o’ yourn. Out with it!”
The arm was raised again and Dick shrank back, his eyes blinking.
“Don’t strike me and I’ll tell you,” he trembled. “I’ll tell everything. I promise I will.”
Dick’s antagonist chuckled in triumph. It tickled his vanity to perceive how easily he was winning his case. He had his victim almost frightened out of his wits. This young stripling who stood before him hadn’t the backbone of an eel. His arm dropped and he slouched forward, completely off guard, and leered into Dick’s face.