Jack nodded. "I doubt if you could. I'm elected, then." "Why--why can't we both go?" "We couldn't take Dinsmore fifty yards. He's too sick a man." "He's going to die anyhow. If I stay, we'll both die--horribly. It's every man for himself now." Jack shook his head. "If you feel that way, you go an' I'll stay." "I--I can't go alone." He pushed his plea one step farther. "He's a criminal--a murderer. He'd kill you if he could, and he's already betrayed me. There's no call for us to wait for certain death on his account." The Ranger spoke gently. "None for you, but he's in my hands. I'll see it out. Mebbe you can get through the lines. Crawl through the grass. Keep yore nerve an' lie low if you hear 'em comin'. Once you're through, you'll be all right." "I tell you I can't go alone. If it has to be that one goes and one stays, then I'll stay." "That's how it has to be. It's about an even break, I reckon. They're liable to get me if I go. They're liable to get you if you stay. Then again, they're liable to get neither of us if I can get through." "What if they rush me?" "Don't lose yore head. You can stand 'em off. They'll never make as strong an attack as they did this mo'nin'. If they make any real rush, it will likely be just before daybreak. Indians don't do business at night." Jack made his preparations swiftly. He took off his boots and tied them to his belt. His hat he left behind. "How will I know whether you get through the sentries?" asked Ridley. "If you hear any shootin', you'll know I probably didn't. But I'm sure figurin' on gettin' through. Don't you forget for a minute that every hour brings help nearer. So long, old man. Best of luck!" The Ranger grinned cheerfully at the other boy as he crept into the brush at the edge of the water. Presently Arthur heard a faint _plop_ and knew that the Texan had begun his journey. The swift current carried the swimmer downstream rapidly. He used his arms just enough to keep himself up, and let the power of the water do the rest. As a small boy he had lived on the Brazos. He knew the tricks of the expert, so that he was able now to swim with only his nose showing. For it was certain that the Indians had set watchers on the river to guard against an escape. The island vanished behind him. Now and then he caught from one bank or the other the glow of camp-fires. Once he was sure he heard the beating of a tom-tom.