Rainbow Pete went putting the edge of the cruiser's ax to his twisted thumb.
"I come to her in my shoes only," he said. "This is not what she will be wanting. I have no gold."
They were shouting to him to have no thought of that, those mad rockmen. There would be gold in plenty. There would be gold. Only go up on the ledge.
"Heard you nothing of the prize?" they bawled to him, the mischief makers. "Oh, there will be no lack of money."
"How is this?" said Rainbow Pete. But they would not be answering him. No! No! They went tumbling him out of Scarecrow Charlie's place, and making for the ledge with him. Oh my, the mystified man. This was a great shameface he had behind his mustache.
"I am much altered for the worse," he went muttering to us. "She will think nothing of me now."
"There is still time for constancy," said Shoepack Sam. "Do not lose hope."
Then he told them to be quiet, looking up at the dark ledge where the woman lay.
"Old Greyback," said Rainbow Pete, whispering to me, "I am mistrustful of this moment."
"Hist!" said McGregor, "that was the sound of his string. He will be beginning now."