Under Arrest

"Oh, is thet you come back, Stutter? Thought I heerd somebody walkin'
behind me. I reckon, judgin' from ther outlook over thar, thet the
dance is 'bout ter begin; leastwise, the fiddlers is takin' their
places," and he waved his gnarled hand toward the distant crowd. "Got
somethin' like a reg'ment thar now, hoss and fut, an' it's safe ter bet
thar 's more a-comin'. This yere fracas must be gittin' some
celebrated, an' bids fair ter draw bigger 'n a three-ringed circus.
All ther scum o' San Juan must 'a got a private tip thet we was easy
marks. They 're out yere like crows hopin' ter pick our bones clean
afore the law kin git any show at all. Wal, it 'll be a tough meal all
right, an' some of 'em are mighty liable ter have trouble with their
digestion, fer thar 's goin' ter be considerable lead eat first. Now
see yere, Stutter, the safest thing we kin do is git ready. You chase
that whole bunch yonder back behind them rocks, where they 'll be out
o' the way--the Swede an' the women. Do it lively, an' you an' Mike
stay up thar with 'em, with your guns handy. Keep under cover as much
as ye kin, for some o' them lads out thar will have glasses with 'em,
and be watchin' of us almighty close. Hurry 'long now; me an' Winston
will stop yere until we find out just what their little game is likely
ter be."

He turned away from his partner, facing once again toward the
"Independence." Then he readjusted the tubes, and passed them over to
his silent companion.