The two groups of men walked silently back to the stores and left Scott still leaning against the fence, weak and sick, but filled with a feeling of intense satisfaction.
CHAPTER XIV
SCOTT MAKES A TRIP TO WASHINGTON
Scott leaned wearily on the picket fence for a long time after the old white horse had carried Foster out of sight up the mountain road. He did not bear any trace of the fight on his face, but his body was sore and he was very nearly exhausted. He could not but smile as he stood there with heaving chest to think how far he had departed from the policy of strict neutrality which he had laid down for himself. But from the remarks which Hopwood had dropped that morning he doubted whether it would make very much difference to the Waits.
Well, it was done now, anyway, no matter what the Waits might think. He had shown them that he had no intention of running away, and he felt that he could now go about his own business without running the risk of being called a coward. As he turned toward the hotel he saw Hopwood leaning on the corner of the fence.
“Well, Hopwood, did you see the big fight?” he asked smilingly.
“That was a good job,” Hopwood replied soberly.
“Shall I have to fight all of the rest of the Waits now, Hopwood?” Scott asked a little anxiously. He did not want to waste any more time waiting for these people or fighting them.
Hopwood shook his head. “Sewall told him he would get his ears boxed again. They will be glad of it.”
“Listen, Hopwood. Is Sewall going to try to take the contract?” Scott asked earnestly.
“No,” Hopwood replied emphatically. “How could he? There is not that much money in the whole country.”