“That I consider none of your business.”
“I shall make it my affair, Señor Cody, and you are covered by my men,” responded the cowboy king.
It was true, for four men were peering over a rock with rifles leveled at the scout, who said:
“So it seems; but do you not respect this badge?” and he pointed to the pin Suelo had given him.
“Not this time, for you are too dangerous a man to be at large. I know you, Buffalo Bill.”
“And I know you, now, for you were a deserter from the army, and later became a finished cutthroat; but I thought you were dead, Dallas Mowbray.”
“No, I left the northern country several years ago, as it became too hot for me, and came back to the Southwest, for I am really a Mexican, you know, and was once an officer of the Mexican army, but was exiled for certain acts. You see, I don’t mind telling you, as I regard you as good as dead.”
“Thanks; but while there is life, there is hope.”
“So I have found out; but I’ll fix you now—ho, men, come here!”
The four men came, their rifles still loaded; but as they neared the scout there were several shots heard—then one.