Part 5 (1/2)
”That was the case, Darry And I've had a wonderful adventure, too,”
added Joe earnestly Then he told his story, to which the others listened with close attention When he came to mention Gilroy, Fetter, and Potts, old Benson uttered a lohistle
”So that gang has turned up again, eh?” muttered the old scout ”This will be news to Colonel Fairfield I reckon he'll be glad to be put on guard If the quarter loss”
”Is it true that Colonel Fairfield killed this Gilroy's chum?”
”Perhaps he did The colonel was in that mix-up, and after it was over Dan Hickey was found dead in the bushes But it was a fair fight, and the desperadoes knehat to expect when they went in for it”
”When does the quarterh with the money?”
”I don't know, Joe Like as not it will be soon And that being the case, we had better not lose tiet to the fort just as soon as we can,” concluded the old scout
CHAPTER VI
DARRY MAKES A DISCOVERY
As pressed as they were for tied that the bearskin be saved, and did all they could toward helping the old scout skin the beast With the pelt they took along about twenty pounds of the juiciest steaks
”It's a pity to leave the rest to the wolves!” sighed Joe ”But it can't be helped What a feast they will have!”
”I' the beast into a tree,” replied old Benson ”That may help save it until somebody else comes this way The soldiers from the fort use the trail yonder, you know”
Soon they were on the way to where Benson and Darry had left Joe's horse As Joe was tired froht's adventure, his cousin and the old scout took turns in carrying him behind them Even then his eyes would occasionally close
”We can't ht, that's certain,” said the old scout
”Not if we pushed on hard?” asked Darry
”Joe can't push on as fast as that, Darry He'll want to rest as soon as sundown coet dinner ready,”
suggested Joe ”I wonder if we'll meet those rascals anywhere on the road? I hope not, for they'd be certain to recognize me”
”We'll keep an eye open for 'e-irons are ready for use”
”Why--do you think they'd attack us?” asked Darry quickly
”Theyof value To such desperadoes all are fish that swiovernoverno none of these trails was safe Nearly every horsee-coach was held up To-day you don't hear of a hold-up once in six months”
”Is this Gilroy a very bad man?”
”He is--in a way He's a well-educated fellow, so I've been told, and not as brutal as some But he's committed some robberies that have no equal in the history of these parts Once he painted hiency, and there collected a lot ofhim for Chief sobrd of the Modocs The trick wasn't discovered until three days later, when the real sobrd turned up Even then it wasn't knoho did the trick”
”And hoas Gilroy found out?”