“I should think not,” said the lieutenant.
With an abominable want of savoir-faire, I must strike in at this point with the following:
“Being alone here, are you not afraid of Indians?”
The question was one which evidently disturbed the old fellow. I saw it was a sore subject with him, and regretted having touched upon it. It was plain he wished to keep it out of his thoughts.
“The Injuns won’t bother me,” he said nervously and impatiently, as if hastily thrusting the skeleton out of sight.
The “dug-out” has its skeleton-closet as well as the palace.
“What do you do to pass the time, John?” asked the conductor.
“Well,” replied John, “I cook—look after the mules—promenade up to the crest of the ridge. When all my work is done, and I want something to keep my mind occupied, I mend old clothes.”
Our colloquy was cut short, by the warning cry of “All aboard!”
Both coaches were ready to start. The conductors had concluded to unite their forces. This arrangement gave more room. We divided our party; the lieutenant and I mounted the empty coach, which now took the lead, followed at about fifty yards by the other.