“Yes, the road runs along a crooked valley, and around the base of a big hill. If it was daylight, I might tell you of a short cut over the hill, but you wouldn’t be able to keep to the trail in the dark, to say nothing of the fact that the woods on the hill are not safe just now.”
“Not safe?”
“No. There’s a scare about panthers out that way.”
“Ah! I shall have to keep my revolver handy.”
“It will be as well, but, of course, you’ll stick to the road?”
“Yes, though you might tell me where the trail strikes off.”
“It’s about four miles from here. You pass a perfectly bare ledge a hundred yards long at your right, and then come to a stream. Instead of crossing the bridge, you can follow up the stream. In the daytime, it’s plain enough, and not a bad ride for a good horse.”
“All right.”
Nick then gave some private instructions to Patsy, and left them.
He went to the stable that Kerr had spoken of and hired a horse.