As there was no time to lose in parleying, and as he had a good horse, we rode away and left him.  On reaching camp, we secured a few hours’ sleep, but the next morning, to our surprise, Forrest failed to appear.  We explained the situation to Flood, who said if he did not show up by noon, he would go back and look for him.  We all felt positive that he would not dare to go back to town; and if he was lost, as soon as the sun arose he would be able to get his bearings.  While we were nooning about seven miles north of the Saw Log, some one noticed a buggy coming up the trail.  As it came nearer we saw that there were two other occupants of the rig besides the driver.  When it drew up old Quince, still wearing The Rebel’s hat, stepped out of the rig, dragged out his saddle from under the seat, and invited his companions to dinner.  They both declined, when Forrest, taking out his purse, handed a twenty-dollar gold piece to the driver with an oath.  He then asked the other man what he owed him, but the latter very haughtily declined any recompense, and the conveyance drove away.

“I suppose you fellows don’t know what all this means,” said Quince, as he filled a plate and sat down in the shade of the wagon.  “Well, that horse of mine got a bullet plugged into him last night as we were leaving town, and before I could get him to Duck Creek, he died on me.  I carried my saddle and blankets until daylight, when I hid in a draw and waited for something to turn up.  I thought some of you would come back and look for me sometime, for I knew you wouldn’t understand it, when all of a sudden here comes this livery rig along with that drummer—­going out to Jetmore, I believe he said.  I explained what I wanted, but he decided that his business was more important than mine, and refused me.  I referred the matter to Judge Colt, and the judge decided that it was more important that I overtake this herd.  I’d have made him take pay, too, only he acted so mean about it.”

After dinner, fearing arrest, Forrest took a horse and rode on ahead to the Solomon River.  We were a glum outfit that afternoon, but after a good night’s rest were again as fresh as daisies.  When McCann started to get breakfast, he hung his coat on the end of the wagon rod, while he went for a bucket of water.  During his absence, John Officer was noticed slipping something into Barney’s coat pocket, and after breakfast when our cook went to his coat for his tobacco, he unearthed a lady’s cambric handkerchief, nicely embroidered, and a silver mounted garter.  He looked at the articles a moment, and, grasping the situation at a glance, ran his eye over the outfit for the culprit.  But there was not a word or a smile.  He walked over and threw the articles into the fire, remarking, “Good whiskey and bad women will be the ruin of you varmints yet.”

CHAPTER XIV

SLAUGHTER’S BRIDGE