Ricardo turned his keen look upon the renegade, and, apparently recognizing him, answered:
“You are, then, leading this attack upon my wagon train, renegade?”
“Your train, chief? Not so fast—for I guided this train from Kansas City,” replied Red Dick.
“Yes, guided them into a trap, for you are backed by your band of Dog Soldier Sioux, I see.”
“And they’ll stick to me, too, you bet, chief. Once I owed allegiance to you, but I got tired of hard knocks and little pay, so I sided with these Injuns and they made me their chief, and they’ve been waiting for me to bring out this train for weeks.
“Them settlers are a leetle too strong for me, I admit, for we’ve tried ’em for some time; but there’s honor among thieves, you know, chief, and I’ll share squarely with you and the boys if you give me a lift.”
“Red Dick, you are a fool, to think I would share a prize with you and your red hounds. True, there was a truce between your band of red devils and my men; but you are a deserter from my ranks, and if you do not immediately draw off your band, I’ll shoot you down as I would a dog, and then scalp every one of your gang that I can catch.”
Ricardo spoke sternly, and turning to Red Roark, his lieutenant, gave an order in a low voice.
Red Dick’s face flamed with anger.
“Now, look here, boss, you don’t hold the ace as much as you think, ’cause my redskins ain’t a-goin’ to ’low no foolishness, if we has to fight for it, and as to killing a fellow like a dog, why, two kin play at that game, and no questions axed.”