In his
wake went a little man with a face dried and withered by the sun and
small bright eyes which moved continually from side to side. Lee and
Bill discovered their thirst at the same time and made towards the
newcomers.
They had no difficulty in reaching them. The large man stood with his
back to the bar, his elbows spread out on it, so that there was a
little space left on either side of him. No one cared to press too
close to this sombre-faced giant. Purvis stood before him and Bill and
Lee were instantly at his side. The two leaned on the bar, facing him,
yet the four did not seem to make a group set apart from the rest.
"Well?" asked Lee.
"I'll tell you what it is when we're on the road," said Jim Silent.
"Plenty of time, Haines."
"Who'll start first?" asked Bill.
"You can, Kilduff," said the other. "Go straight north, and go slow.
Then Haines will follow you. Purvis next. I come last because I got
here last. There ain't any hurry--What's this here?"
"I tell you I seen it!" called an angry voice from a corner.
"You must of been drunk an' seein' double, partner," drawled the
answer.
"Look here!" said the first man, "I'm willin' to take that any way you
mean it!"
"An' I'm willin'," said the other, "that you should take it any way
you damn please.
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