"Then you were never separated from each other except for that one day?"
"That's true." There was no mistaking the sincerity and honesty of Carroll's manner.
"Any further questions to ask, gentlemen?"
"How long did you stop at Mr. Macgregor's camp when you was passing by?" asked Ike.
"Don't be so blanked smart, Ike!" said Carroll, in savage scorn. "I'm telling you that I didn't stop a fut. We saw their camp and their ponies and we went sthraight past."
"Didn't stop to light your pipe or nothing?" enquired Ike.
"Blank your blank ugly mug!" roared Carroll, "do you mean to say,—"
"Oh, nothing," said Ike quietly. "Just wanted to know how long you stopped?"
"And I am tellin' you we didn't sthop atall, atall, not a fut of us! We didn't go near their camp within fifty yard."
"Not fifty yards, eh? Well, that's strange."