“Not far from the foot of the trail to the waterin’ place.”
“You told him to stay there?”
“Sure thing. You see I lef’ him ter git him a shootin’ iron. I didn’t think it was right that he shouldn’t be heeled. The greasers————”
“All right, never mind that part of it. Well, you got the gun?”
“Yes; and when I took it back fer him ther kid had gone.”
“How long did all this take?”
“Waal, I’ve bin huntin’ fer ther dern little pinto ever since. But I should say that I rode to camp and back in about half an hour. You see, I hurried.”
“Humph! You found no sign of trouble when you got back?”
“Nary a bit. All wuz quiet as a Chink’s funeral in Tombstone.”
“Had the others heard nothing while you were away?”