It may have been all imagination on Tom’s part, but he really thought that his companion seemed to grow taller and swell out considerably when he read that imaginary part of the letter that related to the fight. He certainly did grow bigger in feeling, if not in person, for he had never before been suspected of “severely injuring” anybody, and he regarded it as a high honor. He forgot the strange story to which he had listened, and became lost in admiration of himself. “Mebbe thar’s sunthin’ in that thar account, arter all,” said he, looking reflectively at the ground. “I’ve had so many of them triflin’ skrimmages, an’ tumbled over so many fellers that I don’t seem to rightly know which one that thar letter tells on. Don’t amount to nothin’ when ye gits used to ’em.” As the wolfer said this he drew himself up to his full height and looked formidable indeed. CHAPTER XXXII. THE WOLFER’S PLAN. “If folks don’t want to git hurt they mustn’t come within reach of this yere,” continued Lish, tapping the handle of the knife he wore in his belt. “I suppose not,” said Tom, who could not help feeling the most profound contempt for his lying partner. “Now what did you steal?” “Wal, that _thar_ aint by no means so triflin’,” replied Lish, once more lowering his voice and glancing suspiciously about him. “I reckon mebbe we’d best move on an’ change our camp afore one of them sergeants comes down here with a squad. I seed a young leftenant down thar to the settlement, an’ I kinder thought he was arter me by the way he looked; but I had disremembered all about stealin’ that thar muel from Ike Barker last summer. The kurn knows it, I reckon.” “Of course he does!” replied Tom promptly. “Who told him?” “My brother did. He’s just that sort.” “What’s he got ag’in me, do you reckon?” asked Lish, who seemed to be all in the dark. “Nothing at all. He wants to injure me, and the only way he can do it is by breaking up our expedition. He knows that I am going to make money this winter, and he doesn’t like it. He wants to keep me away from the hills, and that is the reason he is trying to have you arrested.” “I wish I could bring the sights on my rifle an’ the tip eend of his nose in range for jest half a minute,” said the wolfer in savage tones, as he came out of the bushes and led the way down the ravine. “I’d make him think creation was comin’, sure!” “I don’t want you to shoot at him,” said Tom, who need not have had any fear on this score. “I only want you to help me serve him as he is trying to serve me. He is getting on in the world altogether too fast.” “Wharabouts in the hills is him an’ Big Thompson goin’?” “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me.” “We must watch ’em an’ find out. If we see that they are strikin’ for our grounds we must shoot their critters an’ stop ’em. Thar aint room enough in our valley fur me an’ Big Thompson.” “You don’t like that man, do you? What has he done to you?”