Deadwood Dick Jr. Branded: or, Red Rover at Powder Pocket.. Wheeler Edward Lytton

and I intend to play it for all there is in it, too," was the rejoinder. "Come, boys, off with you, and make all the time you can, for the sheriff and his posse will be on your trail in less than two hours."

      "And let him catch us if he can!" cried Hurley, as he touched his horse and led the way, the riderless horses being led.

      The others cheered as they followed, and as soon as they had passed out of sight, Captain Joaquin turned to Dick and said:

      "Now, then, Deadwood Dick, you follow me."

       CHAPTER V.

      TURNING THE TABLES

      Captain Joaquin met with the surprise of his life, just there!

      Deadwood Dick's hands came up to the level, the handcuffs swinging by one wrist, and in each hand a gun!

      "I prefer to have you follow me, Red Rover!" Dick said grimly. "If you make a move or a sound you are a dead man in the same instant, I give you fair warning."

      The outlaw turned as white as chalk.

      "Curse you!" he hissed. "You have tricked me, after all!"

      "Everything is fair in love and war," with a smile. "You are my prisoner."

      "Cursed idiot that I was for not hanging you to the first tree we came to! But, do you not mean to give me a show?"

      "About as much of a show as you gave me, perhaps."

      "You have got me; I own the corn. But let us come to some sort of terms. I have got about seventy thousand dollars here in this bag; I'll divide even with you and each go his way."

      "What is the use of dividing, when I can have it all if I want to take it?"

      "Do not be too sure of that – "

      "Hold! I read your thought in your eyes, my man. If you make a move to get a gun you will die before you can say scat! Dick Bristol seldom misses his mark."

      "Curse you! But before you shall have this wealth you shall murder me to get it; I will defend it with my life."

      "I do not want it; that is, I want you and it together."

      "Then you mean – "

      "To hand you over to the authorities, yes, and restore the funds to their owner."

      "You are a fool! Here is a life-time fortune within reach of your hand, Deadwood Dick, and if you do as you say you will not get more than five thousand, at the most, for your risk and trouble."

      "That is your way of looking at it."

      "My way of looking at it, yes."

      "And you will not accept my proposition?"

      "Decidedly not."

      "Then I have another to make."

      "What is it?"

      "First let us draw back from this trail. I took leave of my men here in order to get away safely with the boodle – "