“If he hasn’t, he will. McGowan is mad clear through. When I showed him that stolen amalgam I expected it would swing him around to our side with a whole heart. That’s just what it did. I wouldn’t stand in Bernritter’s shoes for all the gold in these hills.”
Some time later the pards could hear men coming into the laboratory and going out again. They were not in a position to see what was going on in the direction of the mill, as the laboratory shut off their view, but they gathered that the clean-up had been finished, and that the amalgam was being brought into the laboratory for Jacobs to “retort” and run down into bar-bullion.
The movement of men from mill to laboratory ceased. At about the same time Bernritter and McGowan left the office and made for the laboratory.
As they drew close to the building, McGowan passed on ahead and Bernritter dropped behind. The alert pards could see the super cast an upward look at one of the hills that rimmed in the valley; and, as he looked, he waved his hand.
Swerving his eyes to the hilltop, Buffalo Bill caught sight of a white man’s head and shoulders just vanishing downward.
“That was a signal!” whispered the scout. “The thieves are making ready for the attack.”
“Hadn’t ve pedder ged oudt und ged pizzy?” champed the impatient baron.
“No,” answered the scout sharply. “Don’t make a move till I give you the word. I’ll tell you what to do then, and you do it.”
McGowan and Bernritter could be heard entering the laboratory. An instant after their heavy footfalls had sounded on the plank floor of the small house there came sounds of a quick scramble, a sharp cry, and a heavy fall.
Nomad leaped instinctively.