"Who are you?
Don't shoot--I surrender." "How many are there of you ?" inquired Doctor Barnes.
"It's me--Big Aleck--I'm shot--I'm dying-- Help!--Who is it ?" "Come out, Aleck!" called the high and resolute voice of Sim Gage--"Come on out!" "I can't come out.

I'm shot, I tell you." Then Sim Gage did what ordinarily might not have been a wise thing to do.

Without pause he swept aside the tent flap with the barrel of his rifle, and stepped in, quickly covering the prostrate figure that lay on the bloody blankets before him.
Big Aleck was able to do more than move.

He raised one hand, feebly, imploring mercy.
"Come out, damn you!" said Sim Gage, his hand at the dollar of the crippled man.

He dragged his prisoner out into the light and threw him full length,--mercilessly--upon the needle-covered sand.
The crippled man began to weep, to beg.