“But they must be somewhere close at hand, Dal,” cried Abel; “and we may be attacked again at any moment.”
“All right, then, we’ll be ready for them,” said Dallas soothingly. “Forewarned is forearmed.”
“You are saying that just to calm me,” said Abel bitterly. “You do not believe me, but it is a fact. I felt something of the kind last night in those horrible moments when he held my throat in that peculiar way. It was out of revenge for the past. They have dogged us all the time, and been close at our heels. Ah, look out!” he cried wildly, as he tried to spring up—“Listen! I can hear them outside plainly.”
Chapter Twenty Seven.
The starting of a bodyguard.
“Nay, nay, lad,” said Tregelly soothingly; “there’s no one here now. That bag of gold was enough to bring one of the rowdies down upon you, but those three chaps wouldn’t risk a meeting with the judge again.”
“I don’t know,” said Dallas thoughtfully; “there is plenty of room hereabout for them to be in, hiding; and they must have gone somewhere.”
“Not much chance for a man to keep himself alive in this country, without tackle and stores, or a shanty of his own.”