We sent Oscar over to get the Simpson boys; and then we made our plans. The’ was no way to get to our camp from above, and we could easy guard the two trails ’at led up from below. Nothin’ would have suited us better ’n to have Ty decide to come and get us; so we told Oscar to make all the fuss he wanted when he came back.
Nothin’ happened down at the ranch that day. The woman drifted about, the same as usual, not seemin’ to observe ’at the’ was anything different from ordinary, and the punchers all stayed in sight. A few of ’em rode up to high spots across the crick and took gappin’s, and a couple of ’em came up the ravine and examined the ground on top; but they didn’t seem to find anything to interest ’em.
That night Horace wrote an order on Ty Jones to release the Friar—we had decided not to mention Promotheus—and Olaf started down with the message. We posted ourselves the same as we had done before; and after about an hour, Olaf returned.
He said he had examined the workshop, which was of logs, the same as the rest o’ the buildin’s, and had heard the Friar and Promotheus talkin’; but hadn’t ventured to say anything for fear they were watched. He said ’at the Friar was holdin’ out on the value o’ fastin’; while Promotheus was speakin’ in defence of ham an’ eggs. Then he said he had crept up to the front door of the old cabin, and had fastened up the order with a dagger.
Olaf looked to me as though he had been enjoyin’ himself a little more ’n his tale gave reason for; so I pressed him, and finally he admitted that there had been a man on watch at the mouth o’ the ravine. He said he had wriggled through it on his belly, thinkin’ it too good a place to be overlooked since the Friar had put ’em on their guard; and after lyin’ still a moment, he had heard the man move. He said he had snaked up to him, and had got him by the throat. He said he thought it was Dixon because the’ was so much throat to get hold of. Dixon had been perfectly resigned to havin’ Olaf lynched that time and Olaf’s memory was not o’ the leaky kind.
“What became of him, Olaf?” I asked.
“Oh, he fought some,” said Olaf.
“Did he get away?” I asked.
“Un, yes—yes he got away,” sez Olaf.
“Where did he go to?” sez I.