“I’m damned,” he exclaimed. “He’s gone! What can that bird be up to this time of the night? He’s strictly a to-bed-with-the-chickens sort of a person. Went out the back way, too, or Vin would ’a’ seen him.”
Johnny was not long in deciding on what he would do. Going to the bed he sat down and pulled off his boots.
“I’m goin’ to camp right here,” he said aloud. “When little Tobias comes back we’re goin’ to make medicine.”
CHAPTER XXVII
TIME TO ACT
The room was bathed in sunlight when Johnny Dice felt some one prodding him back to consciousness. Vinnie the Basque stood over him, his eyes wild with excitement.
“Dios mio, Johnny!” the man cried. “How you come here all night? What you do weeth those man Gale?”
“Search me,” Johnny answered with a yawn. “Did I roost here all night?”
“How I know that? You come up here last night.”
“Sure! Gale wasn’t here. I took off my boots and lay down to wait for him. Guess he didn’t come back.”
“You not hurt heem, eh?” Vin inquired anxiously.