Just then Tex gave a gurgle and sat up, straining at the rope around his hands.
“Don’t break loose,” taunted Tenny. “It’s yer own rope we’ve put on ye, an’ you ort ter know how strong it is.”
“No one but Buffler Bill could hev ketched me like that,” growled Tex. “I’ve allers said he was a powerful sort of er man—too powerful for us fellers ter buck ag’inst with any show o’ winnin’ out. He’s beat Lawless twicet at his own game, an’ I reckon he’ll beat him agin.”
“I reckon I will, Tex,” said the scout. “Do you want us to take you to Fort Sill and turn you over to the soldiers?”
“Might as well go ter Fort Sill as ter any other place,” said Tex, with resignation. “I’m up a stump, anyways. It don’t make any diff’rence whether I’m shot er strung up; they both mean the same thing in the end. Thunder! I allers reckoned if I hung onter Lawless long enough this is what ’u’d happen. I didn’t want ter be took alive! Why didn’t ye use a gun on me, Buffler Bill?”
“Because I had other plans,” said the scout briefly. “Where’s Lawless?”
Tex was silent.
“Where has he taken Mrs. Brisco?”
Still Tex would not find his tongue.
“Why don’t you answer me?” asked the scout.