His hair, which he wore long, was coarse and black, and he had a fierce mustache.
"Is he a robber ?" asked Joshua uneasily.
"Even if he is," said Joe, "we are two to one.

I dare say he's all right, but keep your weapon ready." Though Joe was but a boy and Bickford a full-grown man, from the outset he had assumed the command of the party, and issued directions which his older companion followed implicitly.

The explanation is that Joe had a mind of his own, and decided promptly what was best to be done, while his long-limbed associate was duller witted and undecided.
Joe and Joshua maintained their sitting position till the stranger was within a rod or two, when he hailed them.
"How are ye, strangers ?" he said.
"Pretty comfortable," said Joshua, reassured by his words.

"How fare you ?" "You're a Yank, ain't you ?" said the newcomer, disregarding Joshua's question.
"I reckon so.

Where might you hail from ?" "I'm from Pike County, Missouri," was the answer.