"It might be worse—or it might be better. You can't follow it to-night."
"We must. This is a case of life or death. See here, my friend, if you will help us out we will make it worth your while. We will pay you well. Have you any whisky in the house?"
"Mebbe so."
"It's worth five dollars a quart to us, and we will take a quart or more."
"I reckon I can find a quart for you," was the instant answer.
"If you will secure two horses and a guide to take us over the road to Elizabethtown to-night we will pay you a hundred dollars."
This offer interested the man with the lamp.
"Bring your friend in here," he said, "and I will see what I can do for you. Perhaps I can get the horses, and if I can——"
"Do you know the road?"
"I have been over it enough to know it, but it will be no easy traveling to-night. Better take my advice and stay here until morning."