"What do yo' expec' deyll do?" asked the colored lad at last.
"Well, you can't tell. Injuns are puzzles. When they steal they
steal in the dark. When they fight they fight at daybreak."
"What do yo' suggest?"
"To tell the truth, son," answered Buck, "there ain't much to do but
keep yer eyes open and pop it to the first red horse thief ye see
crawlin' around in the night."
"Hadn't we better light our signal fires?" asked Elmer.
"There won't be any signal fires to-night," replied Buck, slowly,
"if you want my advice. It's one thing for a bluffin' Ute to walk
up in the daylight when you've got a fair chance to give him as good
as he sends, and its another thing for him to get a bead on you a
sittin' in the light o' yer camp fire--him in the dark."
Elmer saw and understood.
So night fell in silence with Buck and Elmer keyed up and ready to
meet any possible attack.
Nothing happened until several hours had passed. Neither Elmer nor
Buck were any the less alert, however. The old scout was pacing up
and down in front of the barricade and perhaps a hundred feet from
it.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177