Nobody stirred.
"Come on," repeated Clinch softly. But his lips shrank back, twitching.
As they looked at him they saw his teeth.
"All right, all right," growled Hone, shouldering his rifle with a jerk.
The Hastings boys, young and rash, shuffled into the trail. Blommers hesitated, glanced askance at Clinch, and instantly made up his mind to take a chance with the sink-holes rather than with Clinch.
"God A'mighty, Mike, what be you aimin;' to do?" faltered Harvey.
"I'm aimin' to stop the inlet and outlet to Drowned Valley, Harvey," replied Clinch in his pleasant voice. "God is a-goin' to deliver Quintana into my hands."
"All right. What next?"
"Then," continued Clinch, "I cal'late to set down and wait."
"How long?"