“Not that I know of. You have kept still when other people were around, and I don’t think anybody mistrusts you.”
“We will give you one-third of what we get if you will go in with us and get the key.”
“I am in for it; but the question is, what shall we do to keep the money after we get it? The whole country will be after us.”
“And it will take more than the whole country to catch us, too,” said Harding with a grin. “We’ll go off among the Sioux Indians.”
If Claude had had any intention of joining the squawmen in any attempt on the safe, this proposition of Harding’s would almost have taken his breath away. He had seen some of the Indians during the two years he had been there, and the idea of taking up his abode with them was not to be thought of for a moment. They were so filthy that he could not bear to go near them; but he had another motive in view. All he wanted now was to get at Harding’s plans, and then he would go straight to his uncle with them. He was sure that in that way he would get a reward for saving him from being robbed.
“Well, what do you say?” asked Harding.
“Will you feel perfectly safe from capture while you live with the Sioux?” asked Claude.
“Oh, yes. The Indians always have spies among the white folks, and they would keep us posted. They can’t catch us there.”
“Well, I will go. When do you think you will make the attempt?”
“To-morrow night, if my partner agrees to it. I am getting sick of this cattle business. I long to be back in my tepee, where I can lay down and smoke as long as I please. I’ll speak to my partner at noon, and I’ll tell you what he says. Here comes that Thompson. I’d like to get him out on the prairie where I could get a fair squint at him with my rifle. I would teach him to lay around and watch his betters.”