Sam laughed at this, and, had Denton not knocked the pistol out of his hand, Skip would have shot the fellow.
“I came here to take you to the place where the old man is,” said Cole, not in the least upset by Brodie’s effort to kill him. “I would not go back on you, Mr. Denton, but I would advise your friend to be a little more careful with that shooter of his, or I may be compelled to hurt him.”
Sam led the way into the wood, and the pair followed, leaving Tambourine Jack and Dell behind in the cabin.
They had not penetrated far into the woods when, with a loud laugh, the negro sprang away.
He dodged about the trees, and none of the bullets directed at him reached the mark; neither were Dick nor Skip able to overtake the fleet-footed fellow.
It was late when the chagrined pair returned to the hut and found Dell Ladley alone.
Tambourine Jack was absent, but he could not have gone far, because Crackers was left behind.
“What luck?” the girl asked.
“None,” replied Denton; “the black fiend was conning us. I’ll come across him yet.”
Skip Brodie was beside himself with rage, and he paced the floor, growling like a wild beast.