human
The curs! The cowards! The murderers!
gpt
What's bitin' you?
human
The fire! Can't you see the curs set Dickson's house on fire on purpose to get us out of the way?
gpt
Great guns! If I don't believe you are right! and Ham leaped to his feet, his face white with rage.
human
An' a woman asleep in th' house! They might have burnt both on 'em tew death! They shore won't stop at nuthin' tew git that map! An' tew think I had my grip on that red-headed skunk's shoulder, an' I only knocked him down!
gpt
I reckon Rex has the right of it, and Mr. Conroyal's lips tightened.
human
But the devilish cunning of it! They knew that whoever had the buckskin bag would not be apt to sleep with it on him; and they calculated that the sudden alarm of fire, coming when all were sound asleep, would so startle, that, for the moment, even the skin map would be forgotten and all would rush out to help put out the fire, and give them a chance to search the house. Cunning, but as devilish as it is cunning! Think of how they might have burnt Dickson and the Little Woman in their bed! By the good God, we would be justified in killing either one of them on sight!
gpt
We certainly would, agreed Mr. Randolph emphatically.
human
They have forfeited all their rights of manhood. But, I fancy, the cunning devils won't give us a chance for an open fight. They will always strike from behind something; but now that we know they are on our trail, we've got to be on the lookout for them.
gpt
and Ham held the buckskin bag up,
human
I know, and, in his excitement, Thure jumped to his feet and caught up the map.
gpt
I know a good way to hide the map, and, maybe, fool them. We'll leave the gold nugget in the bag, and I'll sew the skin map on the inside of my shirt bosom. Then, if they should somehow get hold of the buckskin bag, they'd only get the gold nugget; but, to get the map, they'd have to get me; and, I reckon, dad and the rest of you are able to keep them from doing that!
human
That sounds sensible, declared Ham.
gpt
Thure'll always have his shirt on his back night an' day; an' so we'll jest have tew keep an eye on Thure. I reckon that idee is 'bout as good as any we can think of--only, we must be powerful careful tew keep it secret an' tew never let th' yunk git out of our sight for an instant.