"Let's get th' gang together an' wipe 'em off th' earth," Doc suggested, following Meeker towards the house.
Mary looked up when they entered: "What's th' matter, Dad? Why, are you hurt, Doc?"
"Don't ask questions, girl," Meeker ordered. "Get us some hot water an' some clean cloth. Sit down, Doc; we'll fix it in no time."
"We better clean 'em up to-morrow," Doc remarked.
"No; there ain't no use of losin' men fighting if there's any other way. You know there's a good strong line house on th' top of Lookout Peak, don't you?"
"Shore; reg'lar fort. They calls it Number Three."
Mary had returned and was tearing a bandage, listening intently to what was being said.
"What's th' matter with getting in that some day soon an' holdin' it for good?" asked the foreman. "It overlooks a lot of range, an' once we're in it it'll cost 'em a lot of lives to get it back—if they can get it back."
"You're right!" cried Doc, eagerly. "Let me an' Curley get in there to-night an' hold her for you. We can do it."
"You can't do that. Somebody sleeps in it nights. Nope, we've got to work some scheme to get it in th' daylight. They are bound to have it guarded, an' we've got to coax him out somehow. I don't know how, but I will before many hours pass. Hullo, who's this?" he asked, seeing two strangers approach the house.