All at once McTeague put down the frying-pan.
"What's that ?" he growled.
"Hey?
What's what ?" exclaimed Cribbens, getting up.
"Didn't you notice something ?" "Where ?" "Off there." The dentist made a vague gesture toward the eastern horizon.

"Didn't you hear something--I mean see something--I mean--" "What's the matter with you, pardner ?" "Nothing.

I guess I just imagined it." But it was not imagination.

Until midnight the partners lay broad awake, rolled in their blankets under the open sky, talking and discussing and making plans.

At last Cribbens rolled over on his side and slept.