TOM'S STRATEGY 



"Good idea, Jack," said Tom. "I guess that'll 

 be as good a plan as any to settle about the own- 

 ership of the horse, an' we'll leave it that way." 



"As to the horse being mine," added Jack, "in 

 case no owner turns up, I don't look at it that 

 way. This is a partnership concern, I take it, an' 

 everything belongs to all hands. But that horse 

 is a dandy. I was out brushin' him off a bit ago, 

 an' I haven't laid a currycomb on a finer animal 

 this long time. He's young — only six years old — 

 well built, clean-limbed, got good action, fine car- 

 riage, sound as a dollar, an' I'll warrant he can 

 run a good lick, too." 



As Tom started ofF, instead of following the road 

 he took a course across the prairie that would 

 bring him to the creek some distance from the 

 regular ford, thus, instinctively, as it were, follow- 

 ing out an old frontier scouting rule by which we 

 were taught that in travelling a probably danger- 

 ous road one should avoid the regular crossing of 

 a timbered creek as a precaution against being 

 ambushed. 



About the middle of the forenoon Tom made 

 his appearance and soon joined us. 



In response to our eager inquiries for news he 

 replied : 



"Good news. Our strategy won the game. 

 The whole gang, lock, stock, an' barrel, lit out 

 from their ol' camp last night about midnight, an' 

 went in a hurry, too. Judging by the signs an' 



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