For he knew that rustlers, being riders, would not make much of a day's or night's absence from camp for one or two of their number; but when the missing ones failed to show up in reasonable time there would be a search.

And Venters was afraid of that.
"A good tracker could trail me," he muttered.

"And I'd be cornered here.
Let's see.

Rustlers are a lazy set when they're not on the ride.

I'll risk it.