Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/100

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DEAD MAN'S GOLD

pull with the Gov'mint, or that folks know you've come out here an' will be comin' after ye if you don't go back. They've got so they don't often start somethin' for nothin' unless they're in licker, or young bucks who've got the trail-fever. We'll keep watch to-night, case they git an idea in their heads to swipe the burros. Termorrer 'll tell the story. Either they'll tell you to git out or they'll tell e jes' how far you may go."

"We're not going to go back until we've got what we came for," said Stone. "So long as we don't cross their lines we're within our rights and I know that the place we are after is not in the reservation."

Harvey regarded him in silence, looking at the firm line of his jaw.

"That goes for me," put in Larkin.

"No, I reckon ye ain't the turnin' back kind," said Harvey, slowly. He turned to Healy, who was shivering and complaining of the cold.

"How about you, pardner?" Harvey asked. "You goin' through with it?"

There was a certain significance about the question that struck Stone, though he could not fathom it.

"I'm going through with it to the end," said Healy. His teeth chattered as he spoke. "What's the idea? You didn't think I was afraid, did you?"

"Wal, they ain't no sense in bein' afraid," said Harvey, slowly. "It don't do no good. Only a lot of harm. I jest wanted to be sure you was goin' to stick."

"Well, I am," snapped Healy and curled himself