There were still a few embers and touching his cigarette to one of them he sat down, leaned against the trunk of a tree and began to puff, as if the future of the case had no interest for him.

“Just hand me that pistol at your belt, will you?” said Obed.  “There seems to be some kind of a difference of opinion between you and Ned, and, without knowing anything about it, I’m for Ned.”

Urrea took the pistol and tossed it toward Obed.  The Maine man caught it deftly and thrust it in his own belt.  He did not seem to be at all offended by the young Mexican’s contemptuous manner.

“Besides being one of the best watch makers the State of Maine ever produced,” he said, “I’m pretty good at sleight-of-hand.  I could catch loaded pistols all day, Urrea, if you were to pitch them at me.”

Urrea did not deign a reply and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther looked at Ned, who told them all he had seen.  Urrea did not deny a thing or say a word throughout the narrative.  When Ned finished the Ring Tailed Panther roared in his accustomed fashion.

“Signalin’ to the enemy from a tree top while we was asleep an’ he was supposed to be on guard!” he exclaimed.  “What have you got to say to this, Urrea?”

“Our young paragon of knowledge and wilderness lore has given you my statement,” replied Urrea.  “You can believe it or not as you choose.  I shall not waste another word on thickheads.”

The teeth of the Ring Tailed Panther came together with a click, and he looked ominously at Urrea.

“You may not say anything,” he growled, “but I will.  I didn’t trust you at first, Don Francisco, an’ there have been times all along since then when I didn’t trust you.  You’re a smooth talker, but your habit of disappearin’ has been too much for me.  I believe just as Ned does that you were signalin’ to the enemy an’ that you meant Texas harm, lots of harm.  It was a lucky thing that the boy awoke.  Now, what do you think, Obed?”

“Appearances are deceitful sometimes but not always.  Don Francisco seems to have spun a likely yarn to Ned, but I’ve heard better and they were not so mighty much.”

“You see the jury is clean ag’inst you, Don Francisco,” said the Ring Tailed Panther, “an’ it’s goin’ to hold you to a higher court.  Did you hear what I said?”

Urrea nodded.

“Yes, I heard you,” he replied, “but I heard only foolishness.”

The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but he had the spirit of a gentleman.  He would not upbraid a prisoner.

“The verdict of the jury bein’ given,” he said soberly, “we’ve got to hold the prisoner till we reach the higher court.  We ain’t takin’ no chances, Urrea, an’ for that reason we’ve got to tie you.  Ned, cut off a piece of that lariat.”

Urrea leaped to his feet.  He was stung at last.

“I will not be bound,” he cried.

“Yes, you will,” said the Ring Tailed Panther.  “I ain’t goin’ to hurt you, ’cause I’m pretty handy at that sort of thing, but I’ll tie you so you won’t get loose in a hurry.  Better set down an’ take it easy.”