Once he said, 'My dad's hosses are goin' to starve, an' I'm goin' to kill
somebody!' He was out of his head an' dangerous. Wal, I was worried some, but
all I could do was lock up my guns. Last night I caught him confabin' with
some men out in the dark, behind the store. They all skedaddled except Joel,
but I recognized Cordts. I didn't like this, nuther. Joel was surly an' ugly.
An' when one of the riders called him he said: 'Thet boat NEVER DRIFTED OFF.
Fer the night of the flood I went down there myself an' tied the ropes. They
never come untied. Somebody cut them--jest before the flood--to make sure my
dad's hosses couldn't be crossed. Somebody figgered the river an' the flood.
An' if my dad's hosses starve I'm goin' to kill somebody!'"
Brackton took up the lantern and placed a hand on the door ready to go out.
"Then a rider punched Joel--I never seen who--an' Joel had a fit. I dragged
him in here. An' as you see, he ain't come to yet."
"Wal, Brackton, the boy's crazy," said Bostil.
"So I reckon. An' I'm afeared he'll burn us out--he's crazy on fires,
anyway--or do somethin' like.
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