“Because he rode right through the heart of our encampment to-day, and—”
“And escaped?”
“Yes, escaped.”
“Ha! ha! ha! ha!” laughed the robber-captain, his voice ringing out above the roar of the Devil’s Tarn; “well, that beats any thing on record. But, do you know who that ranger is?”
“Yes, your rival for the hand of Silvia Sanford.”
“Curse you, Brandon; if it wasn’t for one thing I’d shoot you for your insolence.”
“No doubt of it, and it wouldn’t be the first man you’d shot, either,” returned Black Bear.
“Well, well, let’s talk business, Black Bear. I’m bound to have that girl if I have to wade through fire and brimstone.”
“Whew, captain! but you’re desperately in love!”
“In love!” sneered the captain; “humph! all I want the girl for is to torture Sanford, for I know he worships her like I did the dark-eyed Inez, her mother. He cheated me out of the other girl, and I’ll be hanged if he does this one. But if he could jist get a hold on old Barker he’d be all right; but I’ll see to Barker. For two years he has lain in prison up at my ranch, and seems as though he never will die. He’s nothing but a living skeleton now, and if I wasn’t afraid of needing him some time I’d tumble him into the Dead Gorge. But to business. Now, if you will hunt up and deliver into my hands, at my ranch, within the next week, Silvia Sanford, I will add five thousand more to what I offered you at Omaha. What say you?”