"I imagine he can take care of himself," Mr. Lakewood added.
"He can if anyone can," Jack agreed. "But you've got to remember that, if they're all following us it's six to one."
"But the one is armed," Bob reminded him.
"I know but how do you know that they might not have found a gun or two?"
"Who's hanging crepe now?" Bob asked.
"I'm not, only we don't want to take too much for granted, not this trip we don't."
Since the Indian had turned back Bob had permitted the dogs to gradually lessen their pace as he did not wish to get too far ahead and, for the past few minutes they had been moving at a slow walk.
"Think we'd better wait here?" he asked.
"I would," Jack replied. "You see, if he doesn't show up soon we'll have to go back and see what's happened to him and the farther we go on the farther we'll have to go back," he explained.
Bob at once ordered the dogs to halt and the willingness with which they obeyed the word showed that they were far from rested. There was probably no stronger team in the state, but they had a heavy load and for several hours Lucky had urged them on at a rapid pace so it was not surprising that they were tired.