STANDING OFF THE JAYHAWKERS 



out further demonstration they moved off sul- 

 lenly back along the road toward the store and 

 soon disappeared in the timber. 



"They ain't done with us yet," said Tom mus- 

 ingly. "Tain't likely that they'll make an open 

 attack on us while we're in this camp because 

 they can't well get the drop on us here. The 

 most natural thing would be fer 'em to slip past 

 us to-night, or go 'round an' get ahead of us, an* 

 lay for us in the timber at the crossing of some 

 creek on the road ahead. I think that one of 

 you men might as well slip over into the timber 

 yonder, near the store, an' by keeping out of sight 

 an' watchin' them you may be able to guess what 

 they're going to do. They'll be certain to stop 

 awhile at the store an' fire up on the ol' man's 

 whiskey, an' then's the time they'll be apt to be 

 careless about talking their plans over, an' after 

 they've settled on what they intend to do they'll 

 go on to camp to get their suppers. After they 

 go on to camp, ef you'd slip into the store an* 

 have a talk with the old man maybe he could tell 

 you what they're up to." 



"That's just to my notion, Tom," said Jack. 

 "I was just a-thinkin' of goin' on a little spying 

 expedition after them fellers. I think I can find 

 out what their game is, an' by all that's good an' 

 bad, I'll not come back till I do." 



So saying, taking his revolvers and shotgun, 

 Jack struck out down a ravine that led to the 



61 



