"Oh, no you won't," interrupted Tom in a quiet but firm tone as he began fingering the lock of his rifle.
"Why, pardner," exclaimed Tucker in apparent astonishment, "you don't mean to say you'd be so foolish as to compel us to use force? I've got some forty odd men over to camp. Ef you don't give up them mules peaceably I'll go an' bring the whole company, an' then—well, you'll have to pay fer the trouble you've put us to, in course."
A smile of contempt spread over Tom's visage as he replied:
"Trot out your company an' try to take them mules an' we'll show you what we'll do for you."
Jack and I were keenly alive to all that was going on and, while watching the five ruffians out on the prairie, were prepared to meet any threatening move any of them might make.
Being out of hearing of the argument, the squad on the prairie seemed to be growing restless. One of them called out to Tucker as though soliciting an order to charge on us:
"Cap, don't you want us up there to settle that matter? Ef you do, jes' say the word!"
Tucker hesitated before answering and looked about our camp as though calculating the chances. The notion—if he entertained it—was quickly dispelled by Tom, who growled out:
"You give 'em the order to advance an' it'll be the last one you'll ever give. We've got the deadwood on you two fellers an' we'll give a good account of them others, too, ef they attempt to come on."
Tucker acknowledged the situation by shouting to his men in the offing: