“Well, that’s full enough,” sez I, “and the rest of ya keep a sharp watch, and also keep the hosses ready, in case we need ’em.”
The four of us started down the side o’ the slope at good speed. There were only two places on the way down where we caught sight o’ the ranch buildin’s; but just before we reached the top o’ the cliff, we heard a sound down below in the ravine. Glancin’ cautious over the side, I saw the Friar comin’ back alone, on foot and leadin’ his hoss.
I drew back and whispered to the others, and we felt purty blame cheap. We hardly knew what to do, as the Friar was likely to see us if we tried to run back to our look-out before he reached the place where the path came up out o’ the ravine, and most of all, we didn’t want him to know ’at we were follerin’ him.
He had passed us by this time, so we looked over the edge o’ the ravine at him. He was walkin’ slow with his head down, and his hands in his pockets. “He’ll ride home slow,” sez I; “and we can easy beat him.”
“Hush,” sez The, draggin’ us back from the edge, “the’s two fellers follerin’ him.”
“Horace,” I said, quick and firm, so as not to have any back-talk, “you go about forty yards up the ravine, and keep your eyes on these fellers. Don’t shoot ’em unless they try to pass you. Hurry, now! I’ve given you the most important post. If you shoot, shoot in earnest.”
Horace stooped over and ran to where a rock jutted out. “Now, then,” sez I, “as soon as these fellers pass us, we’ll try to bowl ’em over with one stone each, and then drop back out o’ sight. We don’t want to shoot unless we have to.”
“They’re wavin’ us to come back,” whispered The, who had took a glance at our look-out.
“Never mind,” sez I, lookin’ down and seein’ the two fellers crouched over and sneakin’ after the Friar. “Now then, throw and drop back.”
We stood on our knees, threw one stone each, and dropped back. They rattled in the ravine below, and we heard a sharp yelp of pain. I had only dodged away from the edge of the ravine and ran to where Horace was.