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In less than half an hour they were all munching away contentedly enough, with Joses and his men on the far side to keep the drove from going too far out towards the plain, and then all at once the Beaver started up, pointing right away. "Apache dogs!" he shouted. Bart brought the glass to bear, and saw that the chief was right.
"No, I know that," replied the Doctor; "but that is too dangerous a task." "I'm beginning to like dangerous tasks now, sir," said Bart; "they are so exciting." "Well, go then," said the Doctor; "but you must be mounted, or you will have no chance of retreat; and of course you will all keep a sharp look-out in case the Indians swoop down." Bart promised, and went at once to the Beaver and Joses.
Work you to the bone while you can work, and scrap you when they've wore you out. It's a bloody world, as I've said afore." "Come!" cried the fat man. "The game's not up. There's more masters than one in the world!" The little man was not to be consoled. "See where it is, Mr. Joses: I'm too old to start afresh." "Have they sacked you then?" The other shook his head.
"Been pretty busy since we've been gone, Master Bart," said Joses, grimly. "Won't they come scuffling down again when they know there's meat ready for sharing out."
The rougher elements amongst Ikey's Own sought a scape-goat. They found him in Joses. Chukkers came out of the weighing-room and deliberately struck the fat man. That started it: the crowd did the rest. Old Mat and Jim Silver waited on the outskirts of the hub-bub. The American Ambassador and his tall dark daughter stood near by. "What stories they tell," said the great man in his gentle way.
She nodded with set lips. "How d'you know?" "I saw it in his eyes." The young man was genuinely moved. "Poor beggar!" he said. Ragamuffin The little affair of Joses was one of the many trifles that made for intimacy between the young man and the girl. In spite of herself Boy found her opposition dying away. Indeed, she could no more resist him than she could resist the elements.
"If you don't, my lad, you may find yourself dropping down on to a herd of Apaches instead of buffaloes; and I can tell you, young fellow, that a buck Injun's a deal worse thing to deal with than a bull buffler. You must keep a sharp look-out." "I'll do the best I can, Joses, you may be sure; but suppose I should come upon an Indian party what am I to do?" "Do, my lad?
"They're opening the corral, my lad," said Joses just then, in a hoarse whisper; "and if we don't stop 'em we shall be having 'em drive the whole lot of bullocks and cows right away into the plains, and never see a hoof again." "What's to be done, then?" whispered Bart, whose face was covered with a cold dew, while his cheeks were at fever heat.
About the place, early and late, he became aware that Joses was haunting the barns and out-houses. More than once in the lengthening days he saw the fat man vanishing round a corner in the dusk. Taking the bull by the horns, he spoke to Monkey Brand about it. "Why not turn Billy Bluff loose after dark?" he suggested. Monkey was stubborn. "Can't be done, sir." "Why not?"
"Because, you see, Master Bart, we seem to be so horrid safe now." "Safe, Joses?" "Yes, Master Bart," grumbled the old fellow; "there arn't no risks, no keeping watch o' nights, no feeling as it arn't likely that you'll ever see another morning, and it isn't exciting enough for me." But then the Beaver came up with some news that made Joses' eyes sparkle.
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