Part 2 (1/2)
The professor excitedly beckoned for Bushnell to come to the hut, but the horseman did not seem to understand, and he kept straight on toward the town.
”Confound him!” exploded the professor. ”Why didn't he come?”
”He don'd like a trap to run into,” said Hans.
”But there is no trap here.”
”How he known dot?”
”Well, I don't know as I blame him. Of course he could not be sure it was not a trap, and so he was cautious.”
Frank was calmly refilling the magazine of the rifle with fresh cartridges.
”Why you didn't shoot some uf der pandits deat, Vrankie?” asked Hans.
”I do not wish to shed human blood if I can avoid it.”
”You don't done dot uf you shoot six or elefen uf dose togs.”
”Oh, they are human beings.”
”Don't you belief me? Dey vos volves--kiotes.”
”Well, I did not care to shoot them if I could aid the man in any other way, and I succeeded. See, they have given up the pursuit, and the fugitive is far away in that little cloud of dust.”
”Frank!”
”Yes, professor.”
”We should follow him, and bring him back to his dying partner.”
”And leave Jack Burk here alone--possibly to die alone?”
”We can't do that.”
”Of course not.”
”What then?”
”We'll have to consider the matter. But Burk---- Look--see there, professor! He is flat on his face in the doorway! He fell like that after trying to shout to his partner.”
Frank leaped forward, and turned the man on his back. It was a drawn, ghastly face that the trio gazed down upon.
Professor Scotch quickly knelt beside the motionless form, feeling for the pulse, and then shaking his head gravely.
”What is it?” anxiously asked Frank. ”Has he----”
He was silent at a motion from the professor, who bent to listen for some movement of the man's heart.
After a few seconds, Professor Scotch straightened up, and solemnly declared: