“We ought to get out of here before they come back,” said Scott. “You can’t tell how long that will last—and whoever licks, we don’t want to be hanging around here.”
“They’ll burn the place, I suppose,” said Mrs. Conrad, wearily. “May I go back and get some things?”
Scott hesitated. “I think we ought to get away,” he said. “But one of us will have to go back to get Herrick and the saddles—if you can hurry—go with her, Hard, and I’ll go after the horses.”
“Saddles?” Polly spoke suddenly. “Weren’t they in the barn?”
“No; luckily I put them in the wagon when I was tinkering with it,” said Scott. “We’ve only two horses, you know, and I want you women to ride them.”
“By—by ourselves?” Mrs. Conrad’s usually cheerful voice sounded a little frightened. “I couldn’t find that trail in the dark; I’m not Li Yow, you know.”
“The horses will take you.”
“Oh, please let’s keep together!” pleaded Polly. “Why can’t we all go in the wagon the way you planned?”
“Well, for one reason, the harness was in the barn and was burned,” said Scott, with some irritation.
“Herrick has a lot of old junk of that sort in his storeroom,” volunteered Hard. “I believe you could patch up one. Those sounds have died away—the fight’s over,” he added. “Let’s go back and have a look, and see what Herrick says.”