“Then, for goodness sakes! put down that rifle!” called the woman. “You may be glad to see us, but I don’t feel over safe with that thing pointed at me.”
Quickly the other woman obeyed.
Explanations of the surprising scene which had greeted the newcomers were quickly asked and given.
“Now that we’re here, there’s no reason why the boys can’t go ahead and join Sam and Hen,” exclaimed Harris. “If they’ve got to search the Sangammon bottoms, two more men will be mighty welcome to them. I wish I could go myself,” he added, wistfully.
“Well, you can’t, so you might just as well get that notion right out of your head!” retorted his companion, who was his wife. “It’ll be bad enough to have only one man.”
Fearing that some whim of the women might deprive them of this unexpected opportunity to go to their fellows, Sandy again wheeled his horse and rode up to the group.
“Then, we can go, Mrs. Bowser?” he asked, gathering up his reins and drawing his feet back ready to bury the rowels of his spurs in his pony’s flanks the instant permission was given.
“You think it will be all right, Charlie?” she asked, turning to her friend from the Centre.
“Sure thing. Besides, Sam and Hen will certainly need every man they can get!”
“All right, you may go,” exclaimed Mrs. Bowser. “And good luck to you!” she called.