"If dem's frien's," said Ike, when the men had gone out of hearing, "den Ize de biggest kind ob a foe."
The conversation of the two men when they reached the top of the cliff proved the black boy's surmise to be correct.
They had left their horses hitched to a rock, and as they prepared to mount, Frank Shirley said to his companion:
"That's the boy, Badger."
"The boy ez stan's atween you an' fortune?" said Badger.
"Yes."
"Wa'll, ain't you hired me to help you clear the way?"
"I have, Badger."
"Good; then let us git rid of the father first, an' then all the rest'll be ez smooth ez ile."
"You will stick to your contract?"