"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse."
"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you come prowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up a case, maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis's men."
"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire.
"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands of sorrel horses."
"What time did you meet him?"
"I met him at noon and—I've been with him ever since. So you see you're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing at you."
Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "Young Ed's" incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but he checked himself in time.
"Would you mind telling me what you and this Urbina were doing?" he inquired, harshly.
Austin laughed mockingly. "That's my business." said he.
Dave moistened his lips. He hitched his shoulders nervously. He was astonished at his own self-control, though the certainty that Austin was drunk helped him to steady himself. Nevertheless, he dared not trust himself to speak.