“Yes, but the lady's got the start of us; she's got the kid,” said the Missourian. It was plain he approved of the lady.
“What shall you do with him?” demanded Ephriam.
“Doggone if I know!” said the Missourian rather helplessly. “Send him back to the States, I reckon, as soon as we can.”
“Then you'd better leave him here with me.”
“We certainly are obliged to you,” cried the Missourian.
“But look here,” it was Jim who spoke. “What about them five men? If it was redskins, it was all right; but if it wasn't redskins, who the hell was it?” He glanced from one to the other.
“I reckon you got folks down in Salt Lake who'll make it their business to have a look at that trail?” said the Missourian.
“It is better that you say nothing of your suspicions,” said Ephriam.
The Missourian turned on Raymond swiftly, and pushing back the brim of his hat looked him squarely in the face.
“I'm a talking man, neighbour,” said he in his slow drawl. “I done a heap of talking in my time, and I allow to keep right on giving people the advantage of my opinions. I don't fancy being advised to keep my mouth shut about this.”