“Well, Vose,” said the young man, “this is unexpected.”
“So I jedge and I’ve a ’spicion that you ain’t tickled half to death to see me.”
“We were always friends, but I can’t say that either Nellie or I am glad to meet you under the circumstances; for in truth, we have been doing all we could to prevent such a meeting.”
“Things has that look,” added Vose, standing on guard as may be said, for he was not free from misgiving concerning the young lieutenant whom he had managed to run down. His positive orders forbade him to assume the aggressive, but no one could forbid 274 him to defend himself, and he did not mean that this handsome officer should catch him unprepared.
“Whom have you with you?” asked Russell.
“The captain, Wade Ruggles and the parson.”
“What we suspected; I presume no one of the three feels specially affectionate toward me.”
“It is all the captain can do to prevent the other two from quarrelin’ as to which shall have the first chance to shoot you.”
“Why does Captain Dawson prevent them?”
“’Cause he means to have the first chance himself.”