“The boys needn’t know anything about it until the law gets ready to take hold of Sam and Arthur. Mr. Howard is entirely innocent.”
Ike was both astonished and disgusted—astonished to learn that the new master of the ranch was in no way responsible for the occurrences of the preceding day, and disgusted to hear that the guilty ones were to be punished by process of law.
The United States marshal, who would probably take the matter in hand, was much too slow and deliberate in his movements to suit Ike, and, besides, the punishment he would inflict upon the culprits would not be commensurate with their offence.
Ike lingered a moment, as if he wanted to say something more, and then disappeared, closing the door softly behind him.
Uncle Bob was gone a long time—so long, in fact, that Mr. Evans began to grow anxious, and even alarmed. He did not at all like the look he saw in Ike’s eye, and he knew that every moment was of the utmost value to Arthur and his father.
To his great relief, Uncle Bob appeared at last, and Mr. Evans noticed that when he emerged from the grove he was mopping his face with his handkerchief, and that he moved with very unsteady steps.
He staggered into the office and threw himself into his chair without speaking. There was no need that the visitor should make any inquiries, for his appearance and actions told in plain language that he had passed through a trying ordeal in the grove, and that, during his long interview with Arthur, he had learned some startling things.
“I have not another word to say,” he managed to gasp, at length. “What do you advise me to do?”
“To leave the valley at once—this very hour, and put yourself and Arthur under the protection of the troops at Camp Clark.”
“Do you think the danger as great as that?” asked Uncle Bob, who, frightened as he was, spoke calmly.