The more completely to allay suspicions that might by any possibility creep around the circle to himself, McCoppet had been the camp's most active figure in organizing a posse, with the sheriff, to go out and capture Cayuse. His reasons for desiring the half-breed's end were naturally strong, nevertheless his active partisanship of law and justice excited no undesirable talk. He was simply an influential citizen engaged in a laudable work.
It was late when at length he and Bostwick could snatch a few minutes to themselves. The gambler's first question then was something of a puzzle to Bostwick.
"Well, have you got that thirty thousand?"
"Got it? Yes, I've got it," Bostwick answered nervously, "but what is the good of it now?"
It was McCoppet's turn to be puzzled.
"Anything gone wrong with Van Buren, or his claim?"
"Good heavens! Isn't it sufficient to have things all gone wrong with Culver? What could be worse than that?"
The gambler flung his cigar away and hung a fresh one on his lip.
"Say, don't you worry on Culver. Don't his deputy take his place?"
"His deputy?"