“Loneliness is better than bad company.”
“What are you driving at?”
“I’ll tell you, sir. There’s a set of desperadoes who infest these parts—bandits, we call them—and these woods are said to be their favorite lurking-place.”
“That’s pleasant news, Morton,” said Gates, turning to the clerk.
Evidently Morton thought so, for he looked very much disturbed at the intelligence.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” he said to the driver.
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Then why did you bring us to these woods?”
“Because there is no other way.”
“What is dat you say?” interrupted Herr Schmidt at this point.