“We can’t!” said Croyden, stepping quickly around the horse and continuing on his way—Macloud and Axtell following.
“If you’d rather have it before your friends, I’m perfectly ready to accommodate you,” said the fellow. “I thought, however, you’d rather keep the little secret. Well, we’ll be waiting for you at the tents, all right, my friend!” and he drove ahead.
“Macloud, we are going to bag those fellows right now—and easy, too,” said Croyden. “When we get to the tents, I’ll take them into one—and give them a chance to talk. When you and Axtell have the revolvers, with one for me, you can join us. They are armed, of course, but only with small pistols, likely, and you should have the drop on them before they can draw. Come, at any time—I’ll let down the tent flaps on the plea of secrecy (since they’ve suggested it), so you can approach with impunity.”
“This is where we get killed, Axtell!” said Macloud. “I would that I were in my happy home, or any old place but here. But I’ve enlisted for the war, so here goes! If you think it will do any good to pray, we can just as well wait until you’ve put up a few. I’m not much in that line, myself.”
“Imagine a broker praying!” laughed Axtell. 161
“I can’t,” said Macloud. “But there seem to be no rules to the game we’re playing, so I wanted to give you the opportunity.”
As they approached the tents, Hook-nose passed the reins to Bald-head and got out.
“What’s to do now?” asked Macloud. “They’re separated.”
“Leave it to me, I’ll get them together,” Croyden answered.... “You wish to see me, privately?” to Hook-nose.
“I wish to see you—it’s up to you whether to make it private or not.”