ns did--an' failed. We wasn't figurin' ter do no shootin'.
Even allowin' as we'd attacked the wagons an' killed the drivers an'
young Rube an'--an' you, it wouldn't ha' bin easy fer us t' carry away
the goods. We couldn't have unloaded all them Saratoga trunks an' all
that household furniture on the open prairie without bein' dropped on.
Your hosses, too, we couldn't ha' hidden 'em. We couldn't alter their
coats or their shape or action. They'd sure been observed an' admired
all along the back trail from Leavenworth to Laramie. Everybody would
ha' known 'em. No, it wasn't good enough."

"And so," rejoined Kiddie with a smile, "you decided to make a virtue
of necessity, eh?"

Nick had lighted his pipe, and he took several thoughtful puffs at it
before he answered.

"We decided ter delay operations. D'ye savee?"

"Yes, I see," nodded Kiddie. "You decided to wait until I had done the
unpacking for you--until I'd got the valuables nice and handy for the
robbery in the lonesome cabin that I'm building for myself in the
woods."

"That's about the size of it," acknowledged Nick. "An' now you're
warned."

"Forewarned and forearmed," returned Kiddie. "I shall be prepared, you
may be sure. And you can expect a hot reception. A very hot
reception, indeed."

Nick strode up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder with the wet stem
of his pipe.

"Look 'ee here, Lord Saint Olave," he said steadily; "you ain't read my
c'ara'ter true; not yet. You got a lot to learn 'fore you knows me
proper. I ain't the low-down cur as you takes me for--not by a long
chalk. I ain't beyond gettin' back on the right trail, if yer only
gives me time. Your comin' back here to the wilds has made a kinder
diff'rence t' me--a heap of diff'rence. D'ye savee?"

"I'm glad to hear it, Nick, my boy," said Kiddie. "And I quite
understand. You mean that because I'm back here to blaze a trail for
you, you'll give up gambling, you'll give up hard drinking, and you'll
never again molest harmless travellers or do thieving of any sort. Do
you promise all this, Nick? Eh? Straight, now, do you promise it? I
know you'll keep your word, once you give it. You're a desperado, but
I don't think you would break your word."

Nick Undrell pulled himself together.

"It's a steep proposition," he murmured. "But I guess I ain't no
coward. Yes, Kiddie," he answered resolutely. "I promise; I promise
faithful. You're blazin' the trail for me, an