If Gaskins is dead from the blow you
struck him, these two fellows will swear your life away just for
revenge. Even if you told the whole story, what chance would you have?
That would only expose us, and still fail to clear you. It would
merely be your word against theirs--you would have no witnesses, unless
we were caught."
"I reckon thet's true; I wasn't thinkin' 'bout it."
"Then there is only the one road to take, Tim," I insisted. "We've got
to strike the trail together."
"Whar?"
"I cannot answer that now; I haven't thought it out yet. We can talk
that matter over as we ride. I have a map with me, which will help us
decide the best course to choose. The first thing is to get out of
this neighborhood beyond pursuit. If you only had a horse."
"Thar's two critters down in the crick bottom. I reckon thet Kirby an'
Gaskins must'r tied 'em thar."
"Good; then you will go; you agree with me?"
"Thar ain't nuthin' else fer me ter do--hangin' ain't never bin no
hobby o' mine. As I understand it, this Gaskins wus one o' these yere
militia men. I reckon thet if these yere two bug's wus ter swear thet
I killed him--as most likely they will--them boys wud string me up
furst, an' find out fer sure afterwards. Thar ain't so damn much law
up yere, an' thet's 'bout whut wud happen. So the sooner I leave these
yere parts, the more likely I am ter live a while yet."
"Then let's start," decisively. "Pick up one of those horses down on
the bottom, and turn the other one loose.
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