"Ef they suspicion 't we're shyin' off from the ridge, they'll
draw a fine bead 'n' cut loose. I knowed it," he added with a lugubrious
complacency. "I told ye all day that I could smell trouble a-comin'; I knowed
dang well 't we'd stir up a mess uh fightin' over here. I never come onto this
dang res'vation yit, that I didn't have t' kill off a mess uh Navvies before I
got offen it agin.
"Now," he said when they reached the edge of the sandy depression that had
been gouged deeper by freshets and offered some shelter in case of attack,
"you boys jest fool around here on the aidge 'n' foller me down here like you
was jest curiouslike over what I'm locatin'. That'll keep them babies up there
guessin' till we're all outa sight MEBBY!" He pulled down the corners of his
mouth till his mustache-ends dropped a full inch, and lifted himself off his
horse with a bored deliberation that was masterly in its convincingness. He
stood looking at the ground for a moment and then began to descend leisurely
into the draw, leading his horse behind him.
"You go next, Pink," Weary said shortly, and with his horse began edging him
closer to the bank until Pink, unless he made some unwise demonstration of
unwillingness, was almost forced to ride down the steep little slope.
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