“I reckon you know the answer to that?” Roy said quietly.
“Well, I was hopin’, boys—I was hopin’. You’ll go with me now?”
“We will, Silent.”
He thrust out his hand and gripped Roy’s.
“Fellers, what I’m wantin’ to say I can’t, ’cause I’m not built that-a-way. But I guess you understand.” He stopped and turned aside. “One more swig of coffee an’ I’ll be with you.”
“Let’s get the saddles on,” Teddy said swiftly. “Nick, you see what you can do for Silent an’ we’ll saddle your bronc. Give him something to eat if he’ll take it.”
“Nothin’ to eat,” Silent declared. “One more cup of coffee, that’s all.”
Then, when the horses had been saddled, they set out in the darkness.
Silent, veteran plainsman that he was, knew the way was clear to him. He had gone over the route on foot, and could not mistake it, even in that blackness with only a hint of moon shining through clouds to relieve it. Their path, with Silent leading, was up hill.
“Before we get there, we’d better have a plan of action,” Roy declared. Unconsciously his voice was lowered, as though there were those about who might hear. “How many men are in the camp Silent?”