human
Right from behind this log! he exclaimed, after a moment's scrutiny of the ground.
gpt
The fellow that threw that stone crept up behind this log and then got up on his knees and tossed the rock to where we found it. You can still see the prints of his knees and toes in the ground. I thought I heard a sound like the fall of something heavy during my watch; but I was half asleep when I heard it, and Bud's face flushed a little;
human
And I was sound asleep right on the other side of that log at that very moment! and Thure's weather-bronzed face whitened a little.
gpt
No more logs for bedfellows for me!
human
Yes, and he must have been lying right on the other side of that log, when I bent over you to see if you were all right, added Bud.
gpt
If I'd been only smart enough to look, it might have saved us from a lot of trouble,
human
Better as it is, Thure declared.
gpt
Now, we've had our warning and nobody hurt; but, if you had discovered the fellow behind the log, they'd have got you, sure, and, probably, me, too. Both were doubtless on hand; and would have shot you before you could have done anything, if you had discovered one of them. Now, I reckon, if they had found the camp unguarded, they were intending to have a try for the map then and there--and they would have got it! Well, what do you think about doing as they ask, and leaving the map under the stone? It seems from what that stone says--
human
What! and Bud turned in astonishment to Thure.
gpt
Give up that map to a couple of the biggest cowards and cut-throats in California? I'd sooner give them every drop of blood in my body. I--
human
Well, you need not get so rambunctuous over it, laughed Thure.
gpt
But, and his face sobered,
human
I reckon that that there is no idle threat, and he pointed to the flat stone, which now lay on the ground at his feet;
gpt
he added hastily,
human
and he glanced shudderingly toward the log.
gpt
But, there is no use of talking any more about it. Let's get busy. We must make Sacramento City to-night sure.
human
Now, for our answer to that there message, and Thure picked up the flat stone and dropped it into the camp-fire.
gpt
I reckon that will tell them what we think of their threat; and that we're too old to be scart like little school boys, and he sprang on the back of his horse.
human
Now for Sacramento City!