Having thus explained the matter to his own satisfaction, Bill forthwith began to empty the can of beans in a manner best pleasing to himself.
John Abington poked absently at the fire, gently rapping upon a burning juniper branch until it broke under the blows, spurting sparks as it fell into the coals.
“Adam chasers, as you call it, are not so numerous in this country,” he said softly. “Not nearly so numerous as—er—deputy sheriffs.”
Bill Jonathan leaned sidewise, reached the coffeepot and refilled his cup. “Yeah, I get you,” he said finally. “But this is wild country we’re going into. I ain’t taking such an awful chance, now I got this far. I was duckin’ sheriffs when I found these stone men. I’ve got to go on duckin’ sheriffs anyway—that, or else let ’em ketch me and put me in for five or ten years. It’s six one way and a half dozen the other.
“This is how I’ve got it doped out, professor. You and me throw in together. I’ll show you Adam—or his wife’s folks, anyway—and you furnish me with grub and tobacco so I don’t have to show up where I can be nabbed. I’ll draw on you for supplies and keep along close without trailing right with you. So you won’t get in bad if it’s found out I’m in the hills.” He looked across the fire at Abington. “How’s it strike you, professor?”
Over and over Abington had considered this very point during his month of waiting. It all depended on Bill himself, he had decided. Some men are so constituted that preying upon society is second nature to them. Others fall afoul of the law through no real criminal intent. There is a vast difference between the two types, Abington knew. It all depended on Bill.
“I never did function as guardian angel to escaped convicts,” Abington said with brutal directness. “Laws are better kept than broken, as you will probably agree, and it ill becomes a loyal citizen to help any man dodge the penalty for his misdeeds. On the other hand, even lawbreakers may contribute something to the general welfare of the world. Discovering the skeletal relics of a man of the Cretaceous period may not materially help to liquidate the national debt, but it would be a priceless contribution to the scientific knowledge of the human race.”
“Yeah, and I can go on and finish that argument, myself. I can’t do no more damage to society while I’m herdin’ with the coyotes, and if I can help you find what you’re lookin’ for, that’s better than loafin’ around doing time in Carson. So you won’t be doing nothing worse than taking a boarder off the hands of the State. That’s about the way you doped it out, ain’t it, professor?”
“Essentially the same, yes,” Abington admitted. “I’m glad you have so thorough an understanding of the matter. I think if your offense was not too great I could perhaps get you paroled and placed in my charge, but that would take time and— They’ve just discovered the skull of an ape man in Rhodesia, Bill! I’d give a good deal to be able to show them a Cretaceous man found in America.”