human
Huh! From th' looks of that cayuse I reckon he figgers we're goin' to be gone some months, like a prospector holin' up for th' winter.
gpt
He never underplays a hand, grunted Hopalong, a warm light coming into his eyes.
human
Desert or no desert, it's shore good to be with him again. He never should 'a' left Montanny.
gpt
If you want any more canteens you can have th' pair on my cayuse, he said.
human
Find anythin'?
gpt
You shore ain't been asleep, he chuckled.
human
You've just about found out somethin' that's been puzzlin' a lot of folks down here for some years. I wonder how close they ever come to them water-holes when they was scoutin' around? But mebby they never scouted over that way much--everybody was bankin' on 'em stayin' on th' hard stretch over Lukins' way, instead of crossin' it so close to town. You'd never thought of lookin' for 'em over east if you hadn't remembered Slippery Trendly, now would you?
gpt
We wasn't lookin' for nothin' nor nobody except you, admitted Hopalong.
human
But when Red saw a dead cow as far out on th' desert as _it_ was, we just had to take a look at it. An' when we saw it had been shot we couldn't do nothin' else but look for th' brand. That bein' cut out made us plumb suspicious. One thing just nat'rally led to th' next, as th' mule said when its tail was pulled.
gpt
What you bet that missin' brand wasn't a Diamond L?
human
Ain't that th' ranch Idaho works for?
gpt
They raided Lukins th' night of th' day you an' Hoppy left town. That outfit put in two days ridin' along th' hard ground, half of 'em up an' half of 'em down. They lost over a hundred head.
human
Mebby it _was_ a Diamond L,
gpt
That's goin' to win if you can stick it out, said Johnny.
human
McCullough's steamin' a little, but he's still carryin' out Twitchell's wishes; an' I been arguin' with him, too, to give you fellers a chance. Hey! he exclaimed, grinning.
gpt
I allus knowed I'd get a bad name for hangin' out with you two coyotes; an' I done got it. I'm suspected strong of bein' a criminal, like you fellers, an' I'll mebby be an outlaw, too. Sheriff Corwin just said so, an' he ought to know if anybody does. He arrested me for helpin' to get you fellers out of jail, but he didn't say how he aimed to keep me in it, busted like it is.
human
How'd you get away? asked Red.
gpt
Wouldn't you go with him?
human
Mebby he didn't have th' rest of th' dozen,
gpt
Oh, he wasn't real shore about it really bein' me he wanted, so he turned me loose, replied Johnny.
human
Anyhow, I couldn't 'a' gone with him: I had to get this stuff out to you fellers. An' besides, I knowed if I got in that 'dobe hut you wouldn't have th' nerve to bust me out again.
gpt
I'm honin' to bust Corwin's 'dobe head,
human
There's four canteens an' plenty of grub, with Mac's compliments, said Johnny, waving at the pack horse.
gpt
When am I to meet you again?
human
There's too much ridin', comin' down here unless we has to, he said.
gpt
Tell you what: We'll find a hill, or a ridge up on th' plateau where a fire can be lit that won't show to nobody north of them hills you just come around. Take that white patch up yonder: we can see it plain for miles. You ride up to it every day about two hours after sun-up; an' every night just after dark. If you see smoke puffs in daylight, or a winkin' fire at night, ride toward that split bluff behind us. We'll meet you there. If you get news for us, do th' same thing on th' other slope, so it can't be seen from across this valley. As long as it can be seen on a line with th' split bluff we won't miss it.
human
Strings of six puffs or six winks means trouble: come a-latherin', he suggested.
gpt
Strings of three means news, an' take yore time. Better have a signal for grub an' supplies: it'll mebby save ridin'. Say groups of two an' five, alternate?
human
Two an' five, alternate, for supplies; strings of six, come a-runnin'; strings of three, news, an' take our time. Couple of hours after sun-up an' just after dark. All right, Kid.
gpt
Mac's got an old spyglass. Want it, if I can get it?
human
Shore!
gpt
Bring it next time you come,
human
All right. Where you goin' now?
gpt
Up on Sand Creek, where we're camped, answered Red.
human
We got a couple of days before we move out on th' fryin' pan, an' we're aimin' to make th' most of it.
gpt
Wait till I get th' glass, an' I'll go along,
human
Get a rustle on--an' take this pack animal back with you, smiled Hopalong as Johnny started without it.
gpt
We'll empty out th' canteens, an' we can tote th' supplies without it.