“But if they should try to defend themselves?”
“It will never come to that; they will be overcome before they have a chance to know what has happened. We know which way they are coming; do you?”
“They’ll go to the spot where they found us the other day, and follow on our trail.”
“Right; you’re not so stupid as you look. Then we’re certain of the first thing we must know, and that is the direction from which we’re to expect them. The next thing is to find out the time.”
“That can’t be known exactly, but I suppose you can guess it pretty closely.”
“Yes, if a man has any brains he can guess well enough, but guessing won’t do for us. Any one who acts on guesswork in such circumstances as these takes his skin to market. Certainty, absolute certainty is what we must have.”
“We can only get that by sending out spies, and you put your veto on that; you said the track of spies would betray us.”
“Indian spies; mark that—Indian spies. The Apaches know we are here, and if they came upon the footprint of a white man it would not make them suspicious. But if they found the footprint of an Indian it would be very different; they would be warned. And since you are so wise, can you guess what they would suspect?”
“That the Kiowas were here.”
“Yes, you have actually guessed it. If I did not need my old wig myself I’d crown you with it; consider it done.”