“Now you’re shouting, Chip!” jubilated the cowboy. “Strategy, that’s the thing. Let’s hatch up something and then slam it at those junipers before they sabe what we’re about.”
This was the idea, and the three lads fell to work on it without delay. They finally concluded that they would watch and listen vigilantly, and when they heard or saw the road agents approaching they would hustle across the cañon to the place where the mail bags had originally been left. There they would hide themselves, leap out on the thieves when they bent to pick up the sacks, and trust to strength, and quickness, and the surprise of the attack to accomplish their purpose.
It seemed like a desperate plan, although Barzy Blunt chuckled over it and appeared to consider it a joke more than anything else. Merriwell, although fully resolved, had grave apprehensions regarding the outcome. Lenning was almost panic-stricken, but his needs were great enough to master his fears.
For the rest of the afternoon the lads took turns scanning the cañon from the top of the pile of bowlders. The evening shadows began to lengthen, and Blunt suggested that some one go to Dolliver’s after food.
It was decided that the cowboy should make the trip. Lenning begged him to hurry, for, if Shoup and Geohegan should come while he was away, the plan for a capture might fail because there were only two left to carry it out.
Blunt was gone only half an hour. It had been an anxious half hour for Merriwell and Lenning, but it had passed without bringing any sign of the two road agents.
“I told Dolliver what we were up to,” said Blunt, while he and his companions were eating the cold rations he had brought. “He’s a good old scout, that Dolliver person, and he wished us all sorts of luck. Said if we didn’t make our capture before morning he’d tote breakfast for three up the cañon.”
“If anything at all happens,” returned Merriwell, “it will happen before morning.”
“That’s my notion to a t-y, ty,” agreed the cowboy.
A long and fruitless vigil followed. The lads took turn about doing guard duty, and while one kept on the alert, the other two slept.