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"You ought to be ashamed, John Lefever, to say such things," exclaimed Belle, indignantly. But nothing could check Lefever's spirits. His laugh was contagious: "I am, Belle, I am. I want you to feel that I am." "And you came back across the Sinks?" interposed Laramie. "We did," responded John, starting all over again, "and I want to tell you the Sinks are picking up.
You can ride right over their toes, if you'll be patient." The sun set across the range in a drift of grayish-black, low-lying clouds, which seemed only to await its disappearance to envelop the mountains and empty their moisture on the desert. By the time de Spain and Lefever reached the end of their long ride a misty rain was drifting down from the west.
All drew rein a little. "Suppose I cover the rear till we see what this is," suggested Lefever, limbering up as the other two looked back. "Push ahead with Sassoon. These fellows won't follow far." "Don't be sure about that," muttered Scott. "Duke and Gale have got the best horses in the mountains, and they'd rather fight than eat. There they come now."
"I'm not going to take that job, John." "Yes, you are." "Not if I know it. I am going back to Medicine Bend to-night." Lefever took off his hat and twirled it skilfully on one hand, humming softly the while. "John," asked de Spain after a pause, "who is that girl that shot against me this afternoon?" "That," answered Lefever, thinking, shocked, of Jeffries's words, "was Nan Morgan." "Who is she?"
"We've got to wait either for a late moon or a rainy night; then we'll get busy," suggested Lefever. "He might die while you're waiting," interposed Carpy. Lefever could not be subdued: "Not as quick as he'd die if Van Horn's bunch caught sight of him on the road," he said sententiously. "We'll get him down and he won't die, either."
And the sole impression she could snatch in the light and shadow of the redoubtable Sawdy, was narrowed to a pair of sweeping mustaches and a stern-looking hat. Lefever returned, his companion sauntering along after. Kate explained that she had telegraphed. At that moment an odd-looking man, with a rapid, rolling, right and left gait, ambled by and caught Kate's eye.
"It's what Lefever and Carpy want." "They running things?" "They think you'd get well full as quick at a hospital." "What do you think?" "I guess you would." "Tired taking care of me?" "Not yet, Abe." "Raining?" "Hell bent." "What's the other noise?" "Thunder; and the river's up."
It would be insane for us to try to get out over the trail with Sassoon holding it against Lefever we might easily be hit by our friends instead of our enemies. I'll tell you what, Nan, suppose I scout down that way alone and see what I can find out?" He put the proposal very lightly, realizing almost as soon as he made it what her answer would be.
Lefever and Kennedy followed leisurely, and the party withdrew leaving Satterlee, unmoved, in the sunny doorway. Once out of sight, Lefever led the way rapidly down the Gap to the rendezvous.
"Certainly looks blue for Henry," muttered Lefever, after he had gone over with Pardaloe and McAlpin all of the scant information that could be gathered. "Bob Scott," he added gloomily, "may find him somewhere on the Sinks." At Sleepy Cat, Jeffries, wild with impatience, was on the telephone.
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