“Yes, Captain Dash; and seeing it in my hand when he came to, Poker Dick told me all.”
“You know the forfeit for one of our band to become a traitor, sir?” and Captain Dash turned sternly upon the prisoner.
“I does, cap’n; it are death,” was the firm reply.
“Dick, never would I have suspected you of such an act. Your temptation was great; but you have set free a man whose life has been one long crime, and who injured me deeply, and is now at liberty to harm those I care for. That he will do so, if in his power, I know full well. I must start on his trail before it is too late.”
“He said he were going ter Santa Fe, cap’n, for thar he would be on ekil terms with you!”
“Those are the terms I wish to meet him on; but now to the crime you have committed.”
Captain Dash looked the traitor squarely in the face.
“Yas, cap’n. I is list’nin’.”
“You have kindred living at Austin, I believe?”