Steen knew better than to voice any more objections. When Eph King made up his mind to do a thing, nothing would stop him. He offered to go along, but King objected.
In a few minutes Mac and King left the camp, heading in a southeasterly direction. They passed through the bedded sheep and worked their way down Slow Elk Cañon. It was so dark that the Bar 77 men were unable to distinguish an object at three feet distance, and as a result they passed safely through the dead-line.
From there it was an easy task to follow the creek to the old Morgan place. Hashknife and Sleepy heard them walk past the stable, talking in an undertone. Without a word the two cowboys crawled out of the hay and opened the stable door. King and his companion had reached the door of the ranch house, and their knocking was audible to Hashknife and Sleepy.
“What do yuh make of it?” whispered Sleepy.
“I dunno. Mebbe they’re friends, Sleepy.”
There was a long period of silence, and then some one called from inside the house.
“This is Eph King talkin’,” replied King.
Hashknife and Sleepy were unable to hear what was said, but a moment later a lamp was lighted, and the door opened. The two men went inside and closed the door.
“Eph King, eh?” grunted Hashknife. “Oh, what a chance for the cattlemen, if they only knew it.”
“We might capture him and get in good with the cows ag’in,” suggested Sleepy.