“Where do I figger in the money McGillivray pays ye?” curiously asked Hester.
“I’ll give ye five hundred dollars.”
“——! An’ after me fetchin’ ’em to ye!”
“Ye fetched ’em ’cause ye couldn’t handle the game yerself. It was me that risked my neck in goin’ to McGillivray. Then I got to square some of the men.”
Hester laughed mockingly.
“Ye’ll take these five men, mebbe. An’ after ye strike the creek border they can carry in one eye all ye give ’em. Gimme a thousand an’ we’ll round up the Tonpits, bunch the hosses an’ ride for the Coosa.”
“A thousand! Ye’re crazy. After Polcher dips his dirty paws in, what’ll be left for me?”
“Polcher?” gasped Hester, rubbing his chin. “Huh! So he’s down there. I don’t reckon I care for to see Mister Polcher. He must feel nasty the way I fetched the Tonpits to ye. An’ he’s sure told McGillivray the trick I played. I ain’t hankerin’ to see McGillivray, neither. Gimme the five hundred now.”
“What do I git for the five hundred?” sneered Hajason.
“I’ll help round ’em up an’ help run ’em off till we strike the lower towns. I’ve got some good friends there.”