Rodney Surprises Lambert.
Moseley obeyed with alacrity, and at the same time Lambert raised himself on his elbow and gazed about him with a bewildered air. Then he felt of his head, and examined his hand to see if there was blood upon it. The third man could not move without assistance, for the mule had fallen upon his leg and pinned him to the ground.
“Get up,” repeated Rodney, taking Lambert by the arm and helping him rather roughly to his feet. “Now you and Moseley sit down on the steps till I am ready to talk to you. Lend a hand here, a couple of you.”
Hardly able to realize what had taken place before their eyes, Rodney’s companions hastened down the steps to roll the dead mule off his rider, so that the man could get up. When he was placed upon his feet he was found to be so weak from fright that he could scarcely stand; so Marcy and Ned helped him to a seat on the steps. Then they stood back and looked closely at Lambert and Moseley. Their faces were very white, and Lambert was covered with dust from head to foot, but there wasn’t the sign of a wound on either of them. It was bewildering.
“Mister Rodney,” ventured Lambert, when he had made sure that he was still alive and had the use of his tongue, “I hope you don’t bear me no grudge for them words I spoke to you a while ago.”
“Oh, no,” replied Rodney cheerfully. “But you have had your say, and I can’t waste any more time with you now. Moseley, I believe you would be a harmless sort of rebel if you were out of Lambert’s company.”
“Yes, I would, sah,” whimpered the hog thief. “Every bit of meanness I have done was all owin’ to him, sah.”
“Jest listen at the fule!” exclaimed Lambert.
“Consequently I think I will let you and your friend here—what’s his name?”
“Longworth, sah; Joe Longworth,” replied the owner of the name.