"That'd never do," protested the landlord.
"Why not?"
"Coz, if you was to git back to the Gulch at this time all the chances is they'd make you stretch hemp. Fact is, ole feller, you and Shirley here has played your last keerds, and I'm downright sorry to say the game has gone agin you in a most surprisin' bad way."
"Don't leave me!" whined Shirley. "Take care of me and I'll pay you your own price."
"Oh, that's all right," said the landlord, who, with his companion, had placed the two men side by side on their saddle blankets and left with them two canteens. "But the barkin' of that dog comes nearer and nearer, and I don't like it. Keep a stiff upper lip and I'll send out and see how you are after sun-up."
With this promise the landlord and his companion, with an eye single to their own safety, mounted their horses and rode away.
The barking of the dog, coming from the west, was also heard by Sam and his friends.
"I tink dlat no dogee. Dlat a wolf," said Wah Shin.
"Wolf!" repeated Ike with fine scorn. "That's no wolf. Heah him! Jist lissen, Mistah Sam! Ain't dat music, an' can't yeh make it out?"
"I hear it, Ike," said Sam, "and the animal is evidently running fast and coming this way."