human
I guess we're all thinking about those provisions. We'll look for them at sun-up. What I've been trying to do for several days is to put myself in Mappin's place.
gpt
It must have been difficult, Andrew remarked.
human
If I thought you could do so, I'd disown you. But go on.
gpt
Well, said Carnally,
human
You're assuming that he'd employ honest men, Graham objected.
gpt
What's to prevent his hiring three or four toughs and bribing them to say nothing?
human
He's too smart, said Carnally promptly.
gpt
He'd know that if we got lost up here the fellows could keep striking him for money and he'd have to pay; while if we got through, there'd be a risk of our finding them and buying them over. Besides, men of the kind he'd want are scarce in the bush. If they're to be found, it's hanging round the saloons in the cities.
human
Then we'll assume that the boys were square. That would make it harder for him and easier for us. What follows?
gpt
This matter needs a lot of thinking out, and it looks as if our lives depended on our thinking right. Allinson's instructions to the hog seem to have been pretty clear, and he wouldn't plant the cache too far from the gap. Then he'd have to arrange things so the boys would think they'd dumped the truck in a handy place for a party coming down from the north.
human
I believe he has never been up here, Andrew argued.
gpt
Are there any good maps? I couldn't get one.
human
They're sketchy, Graham said.
gpt
My idea is that Mappin would get hold of a prospector who knows the country and have a good talk with him; but he wouldn't send him up with the other men.
human
It's probable, agreed Carnally.
gpt
Well, in my opinion the provisions are lying south of the pass in one of the gulches leading down from the height of land, but not directly on our line of march. You can come up from Rain Bluff several ways, and the hog would mark a route for the boys which would bring them in, so far as he could figure, a bit outside the shortest track. We've got to find the gulch they'd pitch on. It's our brains against Mappin's.
human
Your brains,
gpt
I allow I'll want a clear head to-morrow and I'm going to sleep.