"That's my idea of it," said Pringle.

"They won't find the cave if they do," said Vorhis hopefully. "If he
can get to the Bar Cross they'll see him through, once they hear his
story. Not telling about that clean-up you and Kit made last night is
a dead give-away."

"Any chance of Foy slipping out afoot?"

"Too far. But he could stand a siege till we could get word to his
friends if, by any chance, the posse should find his cave. He took
my rifle. He can see them coming; he'll have every advantage against
attack; and there's another way out of the cave, up on top of the
hill. There's just one thing against him. There wasn't even a canteen
here. He took some jerky and canned stuff--but only one measly beer
bottle of water. When that's used up it's going to be a dull time for
him. We can't get water to him very handy without leaving some sign.
We mustn't get hostile with the posse. Take it easy--you especially,
Pringle. Stella and me, they know where we stand. But you're a
stranger. Maybe they'll let you go on. If you once get away--bring the
Bar Cross boys and they'll take Foy out of here in broad day."

"Very pretty--but there's four men in Las Uvas that know me--and
three of them are police. Maybe they'll stay in the city though--being
police?"

"No, they won't," said the Major gloomily. "They'll be
along--deputized, of course. Maybe they won't be in the first batch
though. Your part is to be the disinterested traveler, wanting to be
on your way."