“Oh, I don’t know,” said Ned coldly. “Perhaps you’ve got a better idea of your own.”
“Here, don’t make us hungry with keeping it back,” cried Chris good-humouredly. “What a fellow you are to take offence.”
“Oh, I’m not offended, only I don’t think some people need be ready to jeer quite so soon.”
“‘Some people,’” said Griggs softly. “That means me. Very sorry, and won’t do so any more.”
“And you keep on doing it.”
“Well, never mind,” said Griggs, smiling. “I’m only ’Murrican, and you know what we are. Come, let’s have your notion, squire, and if it seems a right one we’ll get out of our trouble like a shot. What was it?”
“Well, I propose,” said Ned reluctantly, “that we take proper steps one night, and startle the Indians’ horses into making a stampede. It could easily be done.”
“And afterwards?” said Chris quietly.
“Why, ride off ourselves and get beyond the redskins’ reach. They’d have no horses to follow.”
“And they’d never think of running after and catching them,” said Chris quietly.