The scowl had been there ever since he woke up from the blow on his chin.
"Perhaps you know Bat Spurgeon ?" This was one of the two names that Hippy had heard mentioned when he was the captive of the mountaineers.
The other name was Jed Thompson, the man, undoubtedly, on whose farm the Overland Riders were then encamped.
A sudden change of expression flashed into the eyes of the "constable." "So?
You do know him, eh ?" chuckled Lieutenant Wingate.

Hippy drew his own weapon from its holster, fingering it absently while frowningly regarding the man before him.
"Why are you ruffians so eager to have us get out of the mountains?
What have we done to you that you should be so dead set on getting rid of us ?" As before, there was no answer.
"I see it is useless to question you.

Of course I could _make_ you talk, and I would were there no ladies present to criticize my methods.
However, I am going to let you go.

You go back to the fellow who sent you here.

Tell him for me that, if he bothers us further, we will take matters into our own hands.