His injuries were not serious. Already he showed signs of returning consciousness. Rand brought water and bathed and dressed the wound with a skill and precision that struck Dick’s admiration.
Someone pounded on the door. Drawing his revolver, the policeman hurried over, shot the bolt, swung open the door, concealing himself behind it. A tall, fierce-visaged man stepped into the room, demanding harshly:
“Who locked this door? Where’s La Qua? The boys are ready to start.”
Instantly he perceived that he had committed a blunder. Dick and Toma he had never seen before. Slightly puzzled, he took one step forward, when he felt the steel muzzle of Rand’s revolver poking him in the ribs.
“Stand right where you are,” said the corporal pleasantly. “Glad you came in. Permit me to relieve you of your hardware.”
One glance into the steady eyes, a look at the familiar uniform, and the intruder saw the futility of resistance. Yet there was bluster in his voice.
“It means that the fun’s over,” Rand stated evenly. “Stand right where you are! So the pack-train’s ready to start?”
The prisoner made no reply. Tall, sullen, resentful—unflinchingly he met the cool gray eyes of the mounted policeman.
“Come, speak up! I mean business!” Rand shoved his revolver into the man’s ribs again. There was nothing pleasant about his voice now.
“They’re ready tuh start if yuh want to know,” begrudgingly answered the outlaw.
Again the hesitation. Again the revolver fondling the man’s ribs.
“All right,” said Rand, cooly deliberate. “You can go out and tell them to start. Tell them La Qua is ready.”
“Yes, but not alone. I’ll go with you. I’ll be standing right behind you when you give them those orders. But before we go, you might as well understand that there’s to be no trickery. No treachery. It might prove fatal.”
Rand opened the door, making a gesture with one arm.
“Out of here—and watch your step! I’ll have my gun on you every minute!”
The door closed softly. The sound of retreating footsteps, a pregnant silence—a period of waiting which seemed interminable. Then the door opened again and Rand and the prisoner appeared. In the eyes of the policeman there sparkled a triumphant light. He turned to Dick with a smile.