"What!" said Ike, amazed at Carroll's refusal. In that country men in need of anything helped themselves without reference to the owner.
"Why, sure, Carroll," interposed Crawley hastily. "You'll let Ike have that wagon. I tell you what, I'll drive it for him. Shut up, Carroll!" he said in an aside. "When do you start, Ike? Two hours? I'll be there."
In an hour and a half, true to his word, Ike was back with Shock and the doctor. Before another half hour had gone past they were all on the trail, Marion riding her pony, Shock and the doctor in the buckboard, and Crawley driving the wagon, in which, besides mattress and bedding, were saddles for use when the trail should forbid wheels.
After long hesitation Ike decided that he ought not to join the party.
"That there Crawley," he argued to himself, "aint to be trusted, especially when he's goin' round lookin' like a blank hyena. But I guess I'll have to let him go and git back to the ranch." And so with an uneasy feeling Ike watched them set off.
Half-way back to the ranch he met his boss.
"Hello, Ike," saluted The Kid gaily. "You're needing a powder. Off your feed, eh?"
"Howdy, boss," replied the cowboy gravely.
"I'm feelin' proper enough, but there's others not so frisky."
"What's up, Ike? Your grandmother poorly?"