There's likely to be a stormy evening, I should judge."
"Well," growled Wainwright, "we can look out for ourselves as well as
the next fellow."
"If there's bloody crowns going round, the other gang will get its
share," said Fitzhugh. And the men about me nodded.
I was cheered to see that they needed nobody to do their fighting,
however advisable it might be to do their thinking by deputy.
"Very good," I said. "Now I'll just look about the town a bit. You may
come with me, if you please, Fitzhugh."
"Yes, sir."
"And Abrams and Lockhart may go scouting if they like."
Abrams and Lockhart thought they would like.
"Better keep together," I continued. "What's the earliest time any one
could get here?"
"Two o'clock--if they drove over."
"I'll be around here by that time. You, Abrams, can look out for the
road and see who comes into town."
"All right, sir," said Abrams. "There won't anybody get in here without
I catch sight of him."
Lockhart nodded his assent to the boast, and after cautioning the men
who were left behind we sallied forth.
The town was a straggling, not unpleasing country place. The business
street was depressing with its stores closed and its saloons open. A
few loafers hung about the doors of the dram-shops, but the moist
breath of the south wind eddying about with its burden of dust and dead
leaves made indoors a more comfortable location, and through the blue
haze of tobacco smoke we could see men gathered inside.
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