“Now, I’ve got you covered, and shall bore you through if you start to run,” said the scout.
“And I’ll bore you through, if you don’t talk lively and give some straight answers,” added Wild Bill.
“Yes; don’t shoot!” begged Garland, in professed terror.
“You thought I was the fellow who is riding about this section claiming to be Buffalo Bill?” said the scout.
The man hesitated. He knew he had to steer carefully now; a false movement might mean his death.
“Yes,” he said, “that’s what I thought.”
“And that man is Panther Pete?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ll inform you that I’m the real Buffalo Bill. And, if your leader looks enough like me to fool even one of his own men, I shall begin to be ashamed of my personal appearance, for I understand he’s one of the worst desperadoes of the border.”
Garland did not answer this.