"Howdy, Dale," drawled Wilson. "Reckon you're a little previous on me."
"Sssssh! Not so loud," said the hunter, in low voice. "You're Jim Wilson?"
"Shore am. Say, Dale, you showed up soon. Or did you jest happen to run acrost us?"
"I've trailed you. Wilson, I'm after the girl."
"I knowed thet when I seen you!"
The cougar seemed actuated by the threatening position of his master, and he opened his mouth, showing great yellow fangs, and spat at Wilson. The outlaw apparently had no fear of Dale or the cocked rifle, but that huge, snarling cat occasioned him uneasiness.
"Wilson, I've heard you spoken of as a white outlaw," said Dale.
"Mebbe I am. But shore I'll be a scared one in a minit. Dale, he's goin' to jump me!"
"The cougar won't jump you unless I make him. Wilson, if I let you go will you get the girl for me?"
"Wal, lemme see. Supposin' I refuse?" queried Wilson, shrewdly.
"Then, one way or another, it's all up with you."
"Reckon I 'ain't got much choice. Yes, I'll do it. But, Dale, are you goin' to take my word for thet an' let me go back to Anson?"
"Yes, I am. You're no fool. An' I believe you're square. I've got Anson and his gang corralled. You can't slip me--not in these woods. I could run off your horses--pick you off one by one--or turn the cougar loose on you at night."
"Shore. It's your game. Anson dealt himself this hand.... Between you an' me, Dale, I never liked the deal."
"Who shot Riggs?... I found his body."
"Wal, yours truly was around when thet come off," replied Wilson, with an involuntary little shudder. Some thought made him sick.
"The girl? Is she safe--unharmed?" queried Dale, hurriedly.
"She's shore jest as safe an' sound as when she was home. Dale, she's the gamest kid thet ever breathed! Why, no one could hev ever made me believe a girl, a kid like her, could hev the nerve she's got. Nothin's happened to her 'cept Riggs hit her in the mouth.... I killed him for thet.... An', so help me, God, I believe it's been workin' in me to save her somehow! Now it'll not be so hard."
"But how?" demanded Dale.
"Lemme see.... Wal, I've got to sneak her out of camp an' meet you. Thet's all."