Joseph A. Altsheler

The Free Rangers Joseph A. Altsheler

Excerpt: ...the sunset the door was opened again and Braxton Wyatt thrust in his hateful face. Behind him stood four Spanish soldiers. "I hope you are enjoying yourselves," he said with irony. "We'd rather be here, as we are, than be in your place, having done what you have done," exclaimed Paul passionately. Wyatt paled a little, but instantly recovered himself. "A bear can growl a lot when it's in a trap but growling doesn't help it out," he said airily. "We kin do more than growl. We've got sharp teeth, too, ez you ought to know," said Tom Ross, the man of few words. "I'll admit that you have had some successes in the past," said Wyatt, smiling maliciously, "but your time is done. We are the victors, and you'll never get out of this." The four as if by common consent turned their backs upon him and did not utter another word. The renegade understood the contempt expressed by those four silent backs, and the willful flush broke through the tan of his face. He had never hated them more bitterly. "Come you, Henry Ware," he said roughly, "Captain Alvarez wishes to ask you some questions." "I wouldn't go, Henry," said Long Jim. "I wouldn't hev a word to say to that Spaniard or to this white Injun either." "He will go, whether willingly or unwillingly," said Braxton Wyatt. "I've men enough here to drag him." "I will go willingly, Jim," said Henry addressing himself to his comrade rather than to the renegade. "It cannot do any harm, and it may help." "Yes, it is wiser," said Paul. "So long, boys," said Henry. "I'll be back pretty soon." He stepped out, calmly ignoring the existence of Braxton Wyatt, and placed himself in the center of the little group of soldiers. His manner indicated clearly that he would make no attempt to escape, and, armed though the four soldiers were, and unarmed though...