“N–yes, give me the stick. I can climb up there as easily as you can. Well, why don’t you give me the stick?”
“’Cause I want it myself, lad. No, thank you; I’m going to have the honour of sweeping down all the rattlers as I go up. You’d better stand back out of the way, in case I should send a big one down. You can shoot it then.”
“Some one else will have to do that,” said Ned, in an off-hand way, to hide his nervousness. “I shall be close behind you.”
“Then you mean to come?”
“Of course.”
“That’s right, old chap. I say, Ned, I don’t believe there’ll be any, after all.”
“Think not?”
Chris nodded. Then laughingly—
“We’ve got to chance it all the same. Come on.”
Chris led the way, with his piece slung, revolver and knife in belt, and the pine staff in his hand, when Griggs took a step forward, with his eyes twinkling.