“Don’t ye bank too much on his tork, Buffler,” put in the old trapper. “Lige Benner is tricky; he’s showed himself ter be a snake in the grass right along; an’ how d’ye know he ain’t got somethin’ up his sleeve right now? Don’t give him a chance ter trap ye.”
Benner flung himself around in his chair, but the fierce protest faded from his face as he looked at Nomad.
“I’ve made mistakes, I reckon,” said Benner slowly, “a lot of ’em, but I’m not making any mistake now, old Nomad, and don’t you make any. I’m tired of this squabbling in the cattle country. I’ll admit I never liked Perry or Dunbar. They blew in here and spoiled one of the objects I had set my heart on achieving. I did everything I could to carry out that object, but the scout and his pards made that impossible; then, listening to advisers, I set out to secure revenge. There I failed again. My hands are in the air. Now I want Red Steve captured, so it can be proved that I had nothing to do with what happened to Ace Hawkins.”
“If he’s captured,” returned the scout, “are you willing to cry quits in this fight on Perry and Dunbar? Will you be for peace in the cattle country, Benner?”
“I’m for peace now,” was the reply; “if I hadn’t been I shouldn’t have come here as I did to-day.”
“I believe you,” said the scout quietly. “Have you any idea where Red Steve can be found, or what he intends to do?”
“If he is hunted for at once, he’ll be found somewhere on the Brazos. He got away, as I said, on foot. Since he has no horse, about the first move he makes will be to get a mount somewhere. After he does that it will be hard to capture him. He knows this country like a book, and he’ll hole himself away where he’ll never be found.”
“My pards are looking for Red Steve on the river,” proceeded the scout. “If he’s there, you can gamble that they’ll find him.”
“I’ve sent out some of my cowboys to prosecute the search. Between them and your pards, Buffalo Bill, the chances seem pretty fair for taking the scoundrel. You understand my attitude? There may be a suspicion that I was back of Red Steve in the shooting of Ace Hawkins. I want that suspicion brushed aside and my entire innocence made clear. Red Steve is the one to do this. Whatever else I have done, I’ve never tried to get any man’s blood on my hands. I’ve gone far in this war with Perry and Dunbar, but never so far as that.”
A sneer curled Bloom’s lip as he gazed at Benner.