Fearing to disobey, the two raiders delegated to ride to the north started.  But as soon as they were out of earshot one of them said: 

“Megget can fire the prairie if he wants to, I won’t.  I’m none too stuck on cattle raiding, anyhow, but when it comes to starting a fire that will probably wipe out the Half-Moon outfit and perhaps even the herd, Bobby Lawrence balks!”

“Showing the white feather, eh?” snarled his companion.  “I warned Gus you wasn’t any good, but he wouldn’t believe me.  You’ll do what he says, though, as long as you’re with Red Ike!”

Red Ike was a giant in strength, the bully of the gang, and Lawrence had seen too much of him to care to risk an encounter with him, so with a growl he said: 

“All right.  Lead the way.”

“Not much.  I’ll ride beside you, so you won’t come any tricks.”

But though Lawrence had appeared to yield, it was only as a matter of policy, and his determination not to fire the prairie was as firm as before.  Yet how he could prevent it, he was at a loss to determine until suddenly he remembered that Red Ike had asked him for a match that afternoon.

As the thought flashed through his mind that his companion had no means for carrying out Megget’s instructions Lawrence put his hand to his belt, where he carried his tobacco outfit, and quickly unloosening it, let it fall into the grass.

None too soon was his action, for even as he opened his hand to let go of the pouch that held his pipe, tobacco and cigarette papers Red Ike snapped: 

“I reckon we’ve gone a mile.”  And as he turned to look back the signal sounded, and in a trice he saw the flames, set by his leader, leap in the air.

“Quick, Gus has touched off!” he cried, then added as he felt in vain for any matches, “Gimme some of your fire-sticks, mine are all gone.”

Suppressing the smile that came to his face at the words, for Lawrence bad feared his companion might have obtained a supply from one of the others, he replied: 

“Can’t.  I haven’t any.”

“What?” roared Red Ike.  “You can’t come any such game on me.  You had plenty this afternoon.  Hand ’em over—­and be lively!”

As he spoke the bully edged his pony closer to the other.

Lawrence, however, only repeated his statement calmly.

“You won’t gimme them, eh?  Then I’ll take ’em myself.”  And like a flash his powerful fist shot out, striking his companion under the right side of his jaw with such terrific force that it lifted him from the saddle.

Springing to the ground, Red Ike roughly searched the motionless body, and when he found that the tobacco pouch was indeed gone he realized the trick that Lawrence had played.

For a moment the baffled raider glowered upon the man who had outwitted him.  Then his attention was distracted by the sound of hoof beats and, turning, he beheld the two horses racing toward the hills, having taken fright at the flames leaping over the plains.  And never thinking of the man he had unhorsed, Red Ike dashed after them.