"You heard what I told to Buck?"
"Buck's gawn back to betray the outfit."
"So I reckon."
Curly got her father's near arm around her, shivering while she looked all round at the dusky hills, up to the red of the sunset. Then she listened to the thud of Doc's horse as he galloped back to report.
"Cap," says the man, "Buck's gawn straight away to the ranche."
"That's good," McCalmont chuckled; "you see, Doc, I've sent Buck to lead that sheriff's posse to Holy Crawss. We've got to work to-night, and ain't hungering none for their company. D'you know the Jim Crow Mine?"
"I guess that's the old shaft a mile this side of Grave City?"
"Correct. Now you lope off to the boys we left in camp at Las Aguas. Tell Stanley he's second in command now. He's to round up his boys, herd 'em close, and drive 'em swift to the Jim Crow Mine. Now repeat my awdehs."
Doc repeated the orders.
"Now," said the Captain, "ride!"