Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/116

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH me then,—only that sort of thing was not to be brought in here; not allowed to complicate our military duties. Daniels was either going to do as I ordered, or there would be a clash.

I thought all this out swiftly while we were saddling up, my eyes observant of his every cat-like movement, yet I did not address him again until we were well out upon the ridge road, the setting sun at our backs. Then I began craftily questioning, for the better planning of our night's serious work.

"Where would you suppose, Daniels, is the best place for us to begin our search?"

Long Sand Crick."

"How much of a ride before wt reach that stream?"

"Wal, I reckon from all ye've said that ye've bin ter Fairview. Sand Creek heads just above thar, an' runs 'bout due east. I don' know whar Donald holds out right now, but I reckon, if we took thet ol' villain Dunn, an' held his feet in ther fire fer a while, he'd come mighty nigh showin' us ther spot."

"Are they associated?"

"Big Donald is pardner with all them fellers. He belongs ter their class, damn him. Thet's how he got ther best o' us pore fellers; thet's how he got a Confed commission; an' thet's how it's goin' to be so blame' hard ter run ther ol' fox out. He'll fight, all right, an' he kin git ther whole Reb army ter back him in a pinch."

"Is there any one down that way we could trust, or question safely?"

He shook his head, his eyes dull and expressionless. [ 106 ]