There
will be a dozen out after me soon."
He remounted his horse, stole silently down the road, crossed the
stream, and then galloped to the tavern, and calling out the
keeper, asked if there was any shorter road out of the mountains
than the one leading to the west. Being answered in the negative,
he rode hastily away. On reaching the place where he had struck
this road the previous day, he entered the woods, followed the
rugged trail that he had marked by bits of paper, and slowly
approached the mine road again near the point where the stream
crossed it. He then reconnoitred and learned that there was
evidently a large party exploring the woods between the stream and
the mine.
At last they all gathered at the ford for consultation, and Brandt
heard one say:
"We're wastin' time beatin' round here. He'd naterly put fer the
lowlands as soon as he found he was balked in takin' his man. I
move we call on Whiskey Bob, and see if a man's rode that way ter-
night."
A call on Whiskey Bob was apparently always acceptable; and the
party soon disappeared down the road--some on horses and more on
foot.
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