“You up so quick,” he greeted him. “I thought mebbe I only one.”
With a sidewise movement of his head, Toma indicated to Dick that he should sit down beside him.
“You drink ’em tea. Make you feel good.”
“No, not now, Toma. I’ll have breakfast later. I’ve come to see you about—about Lamont.”
The quiet eyes surveyed Dick curiously.
“I thought that right away when I first see you. You no like it about Lamont run away?”
“You’ve struck it. I don’t. But it was partly my fault that he left, Toma. I’ve been wondering what we’ll do without a guide.”
“We get along all right mebbe.”
“I hate to risk it,” said Dick. “I wish Lamont was here. He’s lazy and worthless in lots of ways but he knows the trail. Will you go out and bring him back, Toma?”
The Indian lad blinked, stared at his chum unbelievingly. Surely he didn’t mean that. Go after Lamont? Why the man wasn’t worth his salt. He broke the silence with a sudden jarring laugh.