Tom did not leave the sheltering wall; there might be somebody else inside the cabin. And he kept his rifle leveled at Hank Jamieson. If there was to be any more shooting, Tom intended to take part in it himself.
“Howdy, Tom,” Hank said nervously. “I—I’m glad to see you.”
“I’ll bet! Still looking for the men who burned your cabin?”
“That’s it, Tom. I trailed ’em here and—”
“Never mind!” Tom snapped. “It won’t work a second time!”
“Uh—what won’t?”
“The wonderful little story I was too dumb to see through the first time you told me! Who’s inside?”
“Nobody.”
“Turn around, Hank.”
The mountaineer paled. “You wouldn’t,” he quavered, “shoot a man in the back?”
“Turn around and walk into the cabin. If there’s anybody else in there, and they try anything, you get it first—right between th
