Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/302

 camp they find unguarded, and if you lodge a complaint against one of them, the whole band will turn in to clear him by false swearing, and then they will take satisfaction out of you by burning your mill, barn or house, and by shooting or poisoning your cattle. They're a fine lot, I assure you. and I shouldn't think you would like to go among them."

"What a splendid place that would be for Matt Coyle if he were on deck now!" exclaimed Roy. "Why didn't he hunt up that band—did you say there was a band of them?"

"Yes; and I have heard it is regularly organized, and that when one of them has to stand trial or give bonds to keep the peace with those he has threatened, he gets help from all over the county."

"Why didn't Matt hunt up that band and live among them instead of going to such a place as Indian Lake?" said Roy.

"Perhaps he wouldn't have got any independent guiding in that part of the State," suggested Joe.

"There are, or used to be, plenty of guides