Page 29 (1/2)

And as Jack realized what Archie’s plans were for the two boys--that he was still in the business of enslaving others to do his prospecting--the big, hairy bastard got up, clapped the boys on their backs, and exhorted them to accompany him What lure he used Jack didn’t know Over the roar of the place, he could not hear But the boys seeh They rose and joined Archie, as did one of the other lance back, the four of them started to weave their way out of the Dawson Bar, where the dark of night and a griot up to follow

Merritt grabbed his arm, and he spun to stare at his friend

"Don’t tell er colored Merritt’s cheeks "Not a chance I just don’t want you getting there before me"

"Or me," Hal said

Jack fixed hi man bristled "Not a chance"

"Don’t be a fool," Jack said "Merritt and I are leaving Dawson to with ies, ht You’ve started to make a hoirl whose name always makes you blush If you come out there with us now, you’ll have to leave with us toone"

Hal looked as though he ue further, but then the realization sank in and he relented "I’o have that dinner"

"Agreed," Jack replied, and then he and Merritt departed

As they left the bar, he and Merritt walked right by Archie’s other partners, who did not give thelance They stepped onto the darkened street, the loom Archie and his confederate had herded the two boys off to the left--toward the river and away froain what the black-hearted man had used for a lure Girls? Gold? A free rooet from Archie was a knock on the back of the head and a short life of violence and hard labor

"Couns slapping his hips, his heavy coat dragging on hiuns, and handed it over

"If I’ve learned anything, it’s that things aren’t alhat they seem"

"I don’t want it," Merritt huffed, far too used to sitting on a bar stool to be exerting himself so

"It’s to keep the other fellow out of it," Jack explained

And then they had no more time to talk Archie and the others had heard their approach In dihosts, the two slavers and their young prey all turned to see who pursued the silhouette--reached for a weapon as Jack and Merritt caught up

Jack drew his reun and cocked it, and Archie froze

"We don’t got nuthin’ worth stealin’!" one of the boys said, putting up his hands as if it were a robbery

"Shut up, idiot!" hissed Archie’s sidekick

Merritt un trained on the tall, thin slaver The ely horselike appearance, and he had a terrible, ht in his eyes that came as no surprise

Archie’s hand still hovered near his hip

"Let’s see," Jack said "Pull back your coat, slowly"

Archie did as instructed, drawing open his coat to reveal a long, wicked-looking blade hanging in a sheath on his hip When he saw the knife, Jack grinned He felt it bubbling up frorin, and it must have unnerved the others, for Archie’s equine sidekickto each other

"Take off your coat," Jack said

"Who the hell are you?" Archie replied

That surprised Jack Heto face the h it took a few seconds, Archie’s eyes widened in astonishured you for dead," the slaver said

"No I’m very much alive," Jack declared, and it had never felt so true

Archie nodded slowly "That’s good I always regretted not getting the chance to kill youout of it like aJack kne he felt

"What do they want?" Horse Face asked

Merritt cocked his gun "Just those boys Send them on their way and there’ll be no trouble"

"But we--," one of the boys began

"Shut up," Archie snarled