Relieved at the thought he had run across a fellow manhunter, the other exclaimed:
"I'm glad you're here. I've heard hoofbeats coming up this trail for several minutes. I don't believe any one else but Red and me knows of the 'Breathing Cave,' so I suppose it's him. By standing one on each side of the trail, we ought to get both him and Pedro.
"We'll shoot Pedro. But we won't get the ten thousand reward unless we get Red alive. I asked Sheriff Black to-day. When I found that out and heard where Red had been located and the plans the soldiers were making which would cut off his going to the Old Stockade, I hit the trail for the Cave. I'm——"
But the fellow never finished his sentence.
With a shocking oath, the terrible outlaw seized him by the throat and shook him as a terrier does a rat.
"You would betray me for a reward, would you, Faro Pete?" he hissed.
An instant Rogers waited until the shudder which ran through his captive's body told him the fellow had recognized him. Then he raised his pistol butt and crashed it down with terrific force upon his would-be betrayer's head.
Precious time had been lost, however, in listening to, Faro Pete—time that Red spared only because he wished to learn all he could as to the manhunters' plans and the reward. As soon as he had acquired this information, he had ended his former pal's life, and dropping the body beside the trail, the outlaw hastened back to his companions.
"There's some one over there to the North of us, I think," breathed Pedro, when his master rejoined him.
Pressed on all sides, Rogers and his comrades were, indeed, in desperate straits. One false move and their fate would be sealed.