"I don't know; but it doesn't seem to be more than three o'clock."
"Where's Jim?"
"Jest startin' for the fair grounds, an' if you don't show yourself pretty soon he's sure to shoot me."
"There wouldn't be any particular harm in that, for you deserve it; but it can't be possible the fool is goin' to show himself in daylight when more than one is lookin' for him."
"That's what he said," and Sam, fearing lest the half-drunken burglar would begin his pistol practice, seated himself behind the largest tree that might protect him from the bullets.
Now that Phil was awake, he did not lose any further time in talking, but ran out to where he could command a view of the creek, and once more Sam had an opportunity for escape which he did not dare to embrace.
"Come back here, an' don't make a fool of yourself," Jim's partner cried, angrily, as he saw the man pulling leisurely from the bank.
"What's crawlin' on you? Don't I know my business?"
"Not if you count on goin' up there before dark."
"That's jest what I intend to do, so don't screech so much."