“No, but I drove them away. They won’t trouble you any more.”
“That’s a comfort,” said Joshua.
“Now, strangers, if you’ve got any breakfast to spare, I think I could eat some.”
“Set up, old man,” said Mr. Bickford, with his mouth full.
The man from Pike did full justice to the meal. Then he asked his two companions, as a favor, not to start for two hours, during which he lay down and rested.
The three kept together that day, but did not accomplish as much distance as usual, chiefly because of the condition of their companion’s horse.
At night they camped out again. In the morning an unpleasant surprise awaited them. Their companion had disappeared, taking with him Joshua’s horse and leaving instead his own sorry nag. That was not all. He had carried off their bag of provisions, and morning found them destitute of food, with a hearty appetite and many miles away, as they judged, from any settlement.
“The mean skunk!” said Joshua. “He’s cleaned us out. What shall we do?”
“I don’t know,” said Joe seriously.