Joe looked thoughtfully down at the sheet. “And you think that all adds up to something?” he asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Is anybody after you, Joe? It looks a little like it.”
Joe leaned back with a smile. “I have to admit it looks funny,” he conceded with a chuckle. “But I’m afraid you’ve been reading too many mystery stories. Now,” he said, settling back comfortably, “let’s start from the beginning. About those three Crows—it’s perfectly true I don’t get along with them. But it wasn’t serious enough to lead to any bloodshed. Besides, as far as I know, they’re still in Montana. It’s also true that I’m eager to get going. I gave you my reasons this afternoon and they still hold. Why waste time here when we can be on the river? Finally, the accident.” He shook his head in bewilderment. “I don’t know how to explain that, except to say that it was exactly that—an accident. The Indians Luke saw were just a coincidence. I don’t have the slightest idea of why they were there.” Joe looked around the room and smiled disarmingly. “Sorry I can’t give you a more dramatic story, but that’s the truth. Okay?”
Mr. Cook stood up and moved the chair back against the wall. “All right, Joe,” he said quietly. “No cross-examination.”
The Indian seemed relieved. “Good,” he said. “Now what time do you want to start tomorrow?”
Mr. Cook stared at Joe in astonishment. “But great Scott, Joe! You’re in no shape to travel!”
“You heard what the doctor said.”
“He said you’d be up and around by tomorrow, but he didn’t mean for you to start downriver.”
“It’s better than lying around here. Besides, a little exercise will get my strength back a lot faster than a week in bed.”
“Well,” Mr. Cook said as he turned to go out the door, “let’s see how you feel in the morning.”