This voice made the boys gasp and quake. It was Injun Joe s! There was
silence for some time. Then Joe said:
What s any more dangerous than that job up yonder but nothing s come of
it.
That s different. Away up the river so, and not another house about.
Twon t ever be known that we tried, anyway, long as we didn t succeed.
Well, what s more dangerous than coming here in the daytime! anybody
would suspicion us that saw us.
I know that. But there warn t any other place as handy after that fool
of a job. I want to quit this shanty. I wanted to yesterday, only it
warn t any use trying to stir out of here, with those infernal boys
playing over there on the hill right in full view.
Those infernal boys quaked again under the inspiration of this remark,
and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was Friday and
concluded to wait a day. They wished in their hearts they had waited a
year.
The two men got out some food and made a luncheon. After a long and
thoughtful silence, Injun Joe said:
Look here, lad you go back up the river where you belong. Wait there
till you hear from me. I ll take the chances on dropping into this town
just once more, for a look. We ll do that dangerous job after I ve
spied around a little and think things look well for it. Then for Texas!
We ll leg it together!
This was satisfactory. Both men presently fell to yawning, and Injun Joe
said:
I m dead for sleep! It s your turn to watch.
He curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore. His comrade stirred
him once or twice and he became quiet. Presently the watcher began to
nod; his head drooped lower and lower, both men began to snore now.
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