“Yes; I saw him at The Corners not more than two hours ago. He traded off $45 worth of mink skins and bought some powder and lead. He said that he had made a camp on the bluffs over on Beaver Creek, and that he was going to stay there a day or two. Anything the matter with him?”
“He’s gone clean outen his head, that’s all,” replied Jack.
“Crazy?” cried the settler.
“Sartin. He stole a’most a hundred dollars of me last night an’ run away. He wouldn’t a done that if he’d been in his right mind, would he?”
Jack, having gained all the information he desired, gave Mr. Mortimer a significant look, and the two walked rapidly toward the cabin, at the door of which their horses were standing, saddled and bridled, and springing upon their backs rode off across the clearing.
“Did I do right in sayin’ what I did about Julian?” asked Jack, as soon as he and his companion were out of hearing of the men on the bank.
“Perfectly. I want everybody who is likely to meet him to know that he is not in his right mind. You see, when we take him on board the flatboat he may tell the captain or the crew that we are his enemies, and that he knows we intend to do him some injury; but as we have already told them that he is crazy they will pay no attention to what he says. Don’t you understand?”
“In course. But ye hain’t changed yer plans, have ye? Ye hain’t a-goin’ to put him in a ’sylum, be ye?”
“I never had any such intention. If he falls overboard you shall have $200; but, of course, that is a matter that we keep to ourselves.”