She spoke almost in a whisper: "Is it Van Horn, Jim?"
"I don't believe he'd hide there. It's more like Stone."
"Jim! Stone's a deadly shot!"
Looking into the distance he only replied: "From cover. This may be a long-winded affair, Kate." He added, pausing, "you'd better ride as far as the hills."
She looked at him bravely restrained but with all her love in her eyes: "I don't want to leave you, Jim."
"It's poor business for you to be in," he returned firmly. "There's no way to make it pleasant."
"Don't drive me away!"
He hesitated again: "You might do this: Ride back fast about eighty rods. Leave the road there, bear to the west and circle around the little knoll you'll see. There's a clump of willows below the west side of that knoll."
"Do you know every clump of willows in this country, Jim?"
He answered unmoved: "I know that one for I've crawled up there more than once to take observations under that bridge myself. Get around behind those willows and you can see the creek bottom all the way to the bridge. I'm going up the creek about five hundred yards. I'll work down. Whoever's under the bridge can't get away except down the creek. If you see a man trying that, just fire two shots—in the air, close together—I'll understand. If you get into any kind of trouble—which you're kind of trying to do—fire two shots a few seconds apart. I won't be far off."