'Left an hour ago. There's just me and Bettins and True on the job.
Come on in and make yourself at home.'
Howard came on slowly. Monte might be telling the truth, and then again lying came easy to him. Every dark blot was searched out suspiciously by Howard's frowning eyes. Again, having read what was in Howard's mind, Monte laughed.
'He ain't here, Al,' he insisted. 'You and him will have to make a date if you ever get together.'
The two other men rose from the ground and stood a little aside. No doubt they were True and Bettins; still neither had spoken and in this uncertain light either might be Courtot.
'Hello, True,' said Howard shortly. True's voice answered him.
'Hello, Bettins,' he said, and it was Bettin's voice replying.
'Where did Jim go?' he asked.
'Search me,' retorted Monte Devine. Then, a hint of a jeer in his voice, 'Going to stay out there in the dark all night? 'Fraid Jim'll be hiding out waiting to pot you?'
The other men laughed.
'That's his sort of play,' muttered Alan coolly.
He took his time to look about. Little by little the mystery shrouding this and that object dissolved and showed him a rock or a bush. He heard a snapping bit of brush off to the right and wheeled toward it. It was a horse moving. He circled the fire and went to it. Beyond were two other horses, only three in all. Then he shrugged his shoulders and jammed his revolver angrily into its holster and came back to the figures by the fire.