“We’re goin’ for a little mornin’ walk, if you act reasonable,” replied Rathburn. “That was my intention. But if you don’t want to go–––”
He shrugged, and as Sautee looked fixedly at him, he cocked his gun.
Sautee hurried toward the door with Rathburn following him closely. When they were outside Rathburn directed Sautee across the street. When they reached Rathburn’s horse Rathburn quickly mounted and motioned to the mines manager to precede him into the timber behind the little village. When they gained the shelter of the timber they gradually circled around until they struck a trail which led up above the mine. They started up this, Sautee leading the way on foot with Rathburn following on his horse and keeping his gun trained on the mines manager’s back.
“Don’t worry,” Rathburn crooned. “I won’t shoot you in the back, Sautee. That wouldn’t be accordin’ to my ethics. But I’d have to stop you if you made a break to leave the present company.”
Sautee plodded on, his breath coming in gasps, the perspiration standing out on his forehead.
The trail joined with another well-worn path a short distance above the mine. The eastern sky now was light, and Rathburn saw a stone building 155 above them. He also saw that they were on the steep slope of the big mountain on which the Dixie Queen was located, and that there was a rift in this mountain to the left which indicated the presence of a pass there.
In a few minutes they reached the stone building. It had an iron door across which was painted the legend:
DANGER POWDER––DYNAMITE KEEP AWAY
Rathburn dismounted and tossed the reins over his horse’s head so the animal would stand.
“That place looks like a natural jail,” he commented.