The impatience
in Kale's face drove me to declare myself.
"Why, if thet's all I got ter do fer a hundred dollars," I said gaily,
"I'm yer man, Jack. An' how soon will Kirby be comin' down ter this
yer place on Bear Crick?"
"In a day er two, I reckon. Soon's thar's sum boat headin' down river.
Yer see, this yer's all camp; thar ain't no fit place whar we kin hide
the gurl, an' make her keep her mouth shet. Them blamed soldiers are a
moosin' 'bout every whar, an' if she onct got talkin', our goose wud be
cooked. Furst thing we got ter do is git her outer this camp."
"Ternight, yer sed?"
"'Bout midnight; yer'll go'--hey?"
"I reckon; yer got the money?"
With his eyes fastened on the two men eating, he counted out some gold
pieces on the bar and shoved them over to me, keeping them under cover
of his hand.
"Thar's half o' it, an' the rest is yers when ye bring back the hosses."
"How many hosses? Who's a goin'?"
"Three o' yer. Kirby's fer sendin' the mulatter gurl 'long. She's a
free nigger an' might let her tongue wag. Now listen, Moffett, I'm a
goin' out putty soon ter git things ready, an' I'll leave Sal yere ter
tend bar. Now git this; thar's a right smart trail back o' the cabin,
leadin' straight down ter the crick, with a spring 'bout half way.
Thar ain't no guard down thar, an' ye can't miss it, even en the dark.
The hosses will be thar et midnight waitin' fer yer. All ye got ter do
is just put them two gurls on an' ride away.
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