Part 34 (1/2)
”This Jerry Lane I take to be cool and courageous, while the colonel appears to be more of a boaster. He looks like one who can talk better than he can act. If I had ever seen a description of his appearance, I could judge better.”
The two had been walking slowly and thoughtfully, when they were startled by a rough voice.
”You're out early, strangers?”
Turning swiftly, they saw the dark, forbidding face of the landlord, who had approached them un.o.bserved.
”Did he hear anything?” thought Herbert, anxiously.
”Yes, we are taking a little walk,” said Melville, pleasantly.
”Breakfast will be ready soon. You'd better be back soon, if you're goin' by the stage this morning. You are goin', I reckon?” said the landlord, eyeing them sharply.
”We intend to do so,” said Melville. ”We will walk a little farther, and then return to the house.”
The landlord turned and retraced his steps to the Echo Gulch Hotel.
”Do you think he heard anything that we were saying?” asked Herbert.
”I think not.”
”I wonder what brought him out here?”
”Probably he wanted to make sure that we were going in the stage. He is laudably anxious to have as many victims and as much plunder as possible.”
”You told him you were going in the stage?”
”Yes, I have decided to do so.”
”Have you decided upon anything else, Mr. Melville?”
”Not positively; but there will be time to think of that. Did you hear where we were to be attacked?”
”At a point about five miles from here,” said Herbert.
This he had gathered from the conversation he had overheard.
When the two friends reached the hotel, they found Col. Warner already downstairs.
”Good-morning, gentlemen!” he said. ”So you have taken a walk? I never walk before breakfast, for my part.”
”Nor do I often,” said Melville. ”In this case I was persuaded by my young friend. I am repaid by a good appet.i.te.”
”Can't I persuade you to try a gla.s.s of bitters, Mr. Melville?” asked the colonel.
”Thank you, colonel. You will have to excuse me.”
”Breakfast's ready!” announced the landlady, and the stage pa.s.sengers sat down at a long, unpainted, wooden table, where the food was of the plainest. In spite of the impending peril of which they, only, had knowledge, Herbert ate heartily, but Melville seemed preoccupied.