Buster Jack, you're not such a fool as I thought....
He's made somethin' like the end of Wils's crutch.

An' knowin' how Wils uses that every time he gets off his horse, why, the dirty pup carried his instrument with him an' made these tracks!" Wade left the trail then, and, leading his horse to a covert of spruce, he sat down to rest and think.

Was there any reason for following Belllounds farther?
It did not seem needful to take the risk of being discovered.

The forest above was open.

No doubt Belllounds would drive the cattle somewhere and turn them over to his accomplices.
"Buster Jack's outbusted himself this time, sure," soliloquized Wade.
"He's double-crossin' his rustler friends, same as he is Moore.