"Yer damned smart at knowing things, ain't yer?" sneered Brown.
"You started this drinking to-night, by God!" yelled Hughes.
"By God, so he did!" broke in Cameron.
"Well, you never started any drinking since you came into Maytown, yer loafing swine!" retorted Brown.
"Shentlemen, shentlemen, come now, no rows in 'Mine Haus,' else I turn you all oudt," warned Ahlers.
"Turn us out, be damned! Give us another drink. What's the matter with you all, anyway? Come on, what yer going to have?"
Isaac's offer of drinks put an end to the trouble. But Cameron and Hughes took counsel. They secured a couple of black boys. One, they sent up to Kinnear, with a message telling of their suspicions, and asking that their horses be saddled ready to start for Buchanan at a moment's notice. The oher boy, they set on watch over Paddy's horse. At the worst, they could start just as soon as Paddy made a move and two men could peg out quicker than one. Agreeing on this, they settled down to drinking again. Soon, they were all rolling about on the floor, speechless and helpless.
But Kinnear was one of those foxey little men with a long thin nose and ferretty eyes that take no chances. He roused Wonacott, they saddled a couple of horses and came down. One glance at their helpless mates and they decided to run no risk but to start for Buchanan at once.
"But what are we going to do with Hughes and Cameron?" asked Wonacott.
"Leave the swine where they are." Kinnear swung up into his saddle and led the way off.
Shortly afterwards, old Ahlers and his wife woke me by dragging Hughes into the little room boarded off next to mine. Hughes was weeping over Mrs. Ahlers, whom he declared was hit best friend on earth,
