If he could be turned from the direction of Tucker Creek he would head for
the second possible crossing, and when he drew near Caswell City if he were
turned by force of numbers again he would unquestionably skirt the Asper,
hoping against hope that he might find a fordable place as he galloped
south. But, going south, he might be fenced again from Tucker Creek, and
then his case would be hopeless and his horse worn down.
It was a very clever plan, quite simple after it was once conceived, but in
order to execute it properly it was necessary that the outlaw be pressed
hard every inch of the way and never once allowed to get out of sight. He
must be chased with relays. In ordinary stretches of the mountain-desert
that would have been impossible, but the country around Rickett was not
ordinary.
Between the Morgan Hills and Wago there were considerable stretches of
excellent farm land in the center of which little towns had grown up.
Running north from the country seat, they were St. Vincent, Wago, and
Caswell City. Coming south again along the Asper River there were Ganton
and Wilsonville, and just above the junction of the river with Tucker Creek
lay the village of Bly Falls.
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