Tip locked his hands behind his head. "Be sensible, Bill," said he calmly. "You can't hope to buck us, if that's your idea. You can't."
"Can't I? We'll see."
"What can one man do?" contemptuously.
"One-two-three. Three men. Three men can do a lot. Yep. I've seen it done."
"Have you?"
"I have. But I want to be fair to you, Tip. You'll notice I haven't removed your gun. I'll return mine where it came from—behind the waistband of my pants. Now turn your wolf loose."
But Tip O'Gorman merely smiled. "I thank you kindly," said he. "You mean well; but as you say, the carpet and the furniture are new. It would be a pity to spoil both them and the evening."
"You mean we'll go outdoors then?"
"We will not, but I will. You will stay here and, I hope, enjoy one good night's rest."
"One, huh? Do I hear you say one? I do. I get your meaning, thank you. So good of you. Don't get up. I would a tale unfold. Did you ever hear the story of Benjy and the bear. No? This is it. Benjy was out hunting one day and it happened the bear was out hunting too. For the bear was hungry, and the bear saw Benjy before Benjy saw the bear. And after the dust had cleared away and all, the bear was bulgy and the bulge was Benjy."