Roy Velvet turned very pale, but said:
"Are you mad, boy?"
"No."
"Billy, what is the matter?" asked Captain Denham, while the teamsters and settlers gathered quickly around.
"Tie that man and I will tell you."
"But, Billy—"
"Tie him, captain, or I shall shoot him, for I know who and what he is," cried Billy, and his manner, his charge against the chief guide, his mysterious absence from the train for eighteen hours, and his return upon a strange horse, proved to all that he did know something detrimental to Roy Velvet.
"Speak, Billy, and if you know aught against this man, tell us," said the captain.
"Disarm him then for he is a tricky devil."
"Captain Denham, will you permit that boy to cover me with his revolver and hurl insult upon me?" cried the guide.