“He might come along before dark?”
“Impossible. I told Etzooah after he had located the camp, not to show himself until the position of the sun showed eight o’clock. You can trust a Slavi to keep cover. If Conacher jumped on his horse that minute and ran him the whole way he couldn’t get back here till near midnight.”
At last they had named their intended victim!
“My only fear is that it may be daylight before he gets here,” said Gault. “But of course we’ll get him anyhow.”
“He may suspect a trick, and not come at all.”
“Oh, sure!” said Gault unconcernedly. “But we had a damn persuasive argument to use. If he don’t come by daylight we’ll go after him.”
“And afterwards,” said Moale, “what you going to do afterwards?”
Again the chuckle! “By and by I’ll ride back to Blackburn’s Post to resume my courtship.”
“She’ll be mourning for the other one then.”
“What of it? It wouldn’t be the first time that a woman consoled herself with the next best thing. It’s a very good time to tackle a woman. She’s tender then.”