" They all rode off, Jack the merriest of all, waving
his hat till he was out of sight.
When we were clearing up the unusual quantity of dishes, Yik Kee
appeared at the end window and beckoned me. I followed him out. Ted was
with him. Behind the barn were the three horses saddled. Shep was with
them, released from confinement, where he had been secured from
following his master.
"Foller 'em," said Ted in an excited whisper. "Yik's afraid they're up
to something."
"What is it, Yik?" I said, sternly. "No fooling now."
For answer he twisted his long pig-tail around his neck, tying it under
his left ear in a significant manner.
"Hump, he hangee; stealee cow."
"Oh, Mary," I sobbed, remembering Gil Mead's visit, and his strange
actions, and dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant, "I must tell Mary," I
said, wildly.
"Hump, no," said Yik Kee. "Yellee sick," and he closed his eyes in a
die-away sort of manner. "Go now--too latee."
We mounted.
"Mother'll think we're gone to ride," said Ted, as we galloped over the
plains. He was deathly pale, poor little fellow, but he sat erect and
firm. I saw his father's big Colt's revolver sticking out of his pocket.
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