“Gone,” came the cryptic reply. “He done left a message fer yuh. He said tuh tell yuh that you was a long-geared, psalm-singin’ ol’ sand-hill crane and that he’d learn yuh to leave him tuh tell yore lies fer yuh. Likewise that he was free, white and past votin’ age and that he could take keer uh hisse’f in ary tight. Them’s his exact words.”
“Then the danged li’l’ banty rooster is up tuh suthin’. What hoss did he ride?”
“Pete’s Water Dog pony. He——”
“I knowed it! I knowed it!” groaned Tad. “I seen it in his eye, drat his pesky, speckled hide. I should uh tied him up afore I left. Ever since you said no man could swim that river, I seen that or’nary, contrary, mule-minded li’l’ varmint a-millin’ over a idee in his head. All yuh gotta do is tell that li’l’ ol’ son of a gun that no human kin do somethin’ and he don’t sleep easy ner swaller his grub right, till he makes yuh out a liar. I knowed it and when I pulled out last evenin’, I was plumb skeered he’d do somethin’ like that. If he’s killed, Hank, I’m tuh blame. How long has he bin gone?”
“They pulled out two hours afore daylight,” came the reluctant answer.
“They?”
“Pete went with him.”
“Pete?” Tad’s lips pursed in a silent whistle. “Tell me about it, Hank,” he finished grimly.
“The boy showed up afore midnight. Seems like he’d got word somehow, while he was at Deer Lodge, that Fox was cleanin’ me out. That’s why he run away. He made me and Ma tell him the hull thing, how the cattle had bin run off and how Fox is aimin’ tuh jerk the rope tight next week when that note falls due. Then he takes my gun and ’lows he’s startin’ then and there fer town. He’s goin’ tuh kill Fox like he’d kill a mad dog and Ma’s tears ner my arguments don’t stop him.
“‘Hold on a minute, Pete,’ calls a voice from the door. There stands Shorty, grinnin’ pleasant like. Tut up that gun and listen fer a spell while we talks sense. Killin’ Fox won’t git yuh nothin’ but a hangin’ bee. But you and me, barrin’ accidents and good shootin’ on the part uh the LF polecats, kin git them cattle back. Say we throws our hulls on yore top-water hosses, swims that crick and kinda give them gents a su’prise party?’”