The tension broken, everybody talked at once as the flasks were passed from one to another.
Brought back to their normal selves, the great outlaw asked the meaning of the flight from the Springs, to learn of the crowd's cry for the capture of the girls, their escape with the aid of Lawyer Perkins, their hiding in his house, his going to the station to meet Susie's lover at her request, the return of the man-hunters and the decision of Tim and the barrister that it would be best for the girls to leave the town under cover of the night.
Apprised of these points, the bandit-chieftain turned his attention to his captive.
Striding so close that their bodies almost touched, he rasped:
"Why did you follow the girls? How did you know they were riding?"
"W—we thought they were going to meet you. We were going to make them lead us to you and—"
"So that's why you shot at them, knowing they were women?" burst in the terrible bandit.
"We only did it to frighten 'em."
"You certainly succeeded—and their screams brought death to your fellows.