"I certainly do," he said with profound conviction, "and I'll never
forget it." He decided on a change of tactics. "But there are other
men with Jim Silent and those men will fight to keep you from getting
to him."
"I'm sorry for 'em," said Dan gently. "I ain't got nothin' agin any
one except the big man."
Calder took a long breath.
"Don't you see," he explained carefully, "if you shoot one of these
men you are simply a murderer who must be apprehended by the law and
punished."
"It makes it bad for me, doesn't it?" said Dan. "An' I hope I won't
have to hurt more'n one or two of 'em. You see,"--he leaned forward
seriously towards Calder--"I'd only shoot for their arms or their
legs. I wouldn't spoil them altogether."
Calder threw up his hands in despair. Black Bart snarled at the
gesture.
"I can't listen no more," said Dan. "I got to start explorin' the
willows pretty soon."
"In the dark?" exclaimed Calder.
"Sure. Black Bart'll go with me. The dark don't bother him."
"I'll go along."
"I'd rather be alone. I might meet him."
"Any way you want," said Calder, "but first hear my plan--it doesn't
take long to tell it."
The darkness thickened around them while he talked.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140