hauler, was crazy! But he determined to find
out.

"What you said, Franke?" he asked, peering
into the glowing eyes of the other. "Say thot
again, _hombre_!"

"I haf say," repeated the other, with lingering
emphasis upon each word -- "I haf say I bet you
everyt'ing -- wagon, harness, _caballos_ -- everyt'ing!
-- against thot wagon, harness, _caballos_ yours--
everyt'ing -- thee whole shutting-match -- thot I haf
win thee bet!"

Again Felipe lowered his eyes. But now to
consider suspicions. He had heard rightly; Franke
really wanted to bet all he had. But he could not
but wonder whether Franke, by any possible
chance, knew in advance the outcome of the affair
in the trail. He had heard of such things, though
never had he believed them possible. Yet he
found himself troubled with insistent reminder
that Franke had suggested this whole thing. Then
suddenly he was gripped in another unwelcome
thought. Could it be possible that this scheming
_hombre_, awaking at a time when he himself was
soundest asleep, had gone out into the trail on
tiptoe for advance information? It was possible.
Why not? But that was not the point exactly.
The point was, had he done it? Had this buzzard
circled out into the trail while he himself was
asleep? He did not know, and he could not decide!
For the third time in ten hours, though
puzzled and groping, trembling between gain and
loss, he plunged on the gambler's chance.

[[12]]

p011 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p012w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p013

v?