Prob'ly they surmise Brown is in league with us to show us a short cut to what we're after.

If that's how they work it out, then they wouldn't need think much to conclude that putting Brown on the blink would hoodoo us.

Maybe they allow that that much bad luck to begin with would unsettle Brown's friendly feelings for us.
Anyway--somebody bought the mules--somebody stole the cattle--cattle are somewhere ahead.

Let's hurry forward and see!" We did hurry, but made disgustingly poor time.

Once a dozen buffalo stampeded our tiny column.