The captain stated that he would take charge of things, and suggested that the cowboys take a rest.

“That’s all right, Cap,” said a puncher, pointing toward the naked flagstaff.  “But we-all would admire to see the Stars and Stripes floatin’ up there afore we drift.”

“I’ll have the flag run up,” said the captain.

“That’s all right, Cap.  But you don’t sabe the idee.  These here steps got to be clean afore that flag goes up.”

* * * * *

“And they’s some good in bein’ fat,” said Bud Shoop as he met Lorry next morning.  “The army doc just put a plaster on my arm where one of them automatic pills nicked me.  Now, if I’d been lean like you—­”

“Did you see Waco?” queried Lorry.

“Waco?  What’s ailin’ you, son?”

“Nothin’.  It was Waco went down, workin’ that machine gun against his own crowd.  I didn’t sabe that at first.”

“Him?  Didn’t know he was in town.”

“I didn’t, either, till last night.  He sneaked in to tell me about the killin’ of Pat.  Next I seen him was when he brained a fella that was shootin’ at me.  Then somehow he got to the gun—­and you know the rest.”

“Looks like he was crazy,” suggested Shoop.

“I don’ know about that.  I got to him before he cashed in.  He pawed around like he couldn’t see.  I asked what I could do.  He kind of braced up then.  ‘That you, kid?’ he says.  ‘They didn’t get you?’ I told him no.  ‘Then I reckon we’re square,’ he says.  I thought he was gone, but he reached out his hand.  Seems he couldn’t see.  ‘Would you mind shakin’ hands with a bum?’ he says.  I did.  And then he let go my hand.  He was done.”

“H’m!  And him!  But you can’t always tell.  Sometimes it takes a bullet placed just right, and sometimes religion, and sometimes a woman to make a man show what’s in him.  I reckon Waco done you a good turn that journey.  But ain’t it hard luck when a fella waits till he’s got to cross over afore he shows white?”

“He must ‘a’ had a hunch he was goin’ to get his,” said Lorry.  “Or he wouldn’t chanced sneakin’ into town last night.  When do we go north?”

“To-morrow.  The doc says the sheriff will pull through.  He sure ought to get the benefit of the big doubt.  There’s a man that God A’mighty took some trouble in makin’.”

“Well, I’m mighty glad it’s over.  I don’t want any more like this.  I come through all right, but this ain’t fightin’; it’s plumb killin’ and murder.”

“And both sides thinks so,” said Bud.  “And lemme tell you; you can read your eyes out about peace and equality and fraternity, but they’s goin’ to be killin’ in this here world just as long as they’s fools willin’ to listen to other fools talk.  And they’s always goin’ to be some fools.”

“You ain’t strong on socialism, eh, Bud?”

“Socialism?  You mean when all men is born fools and equal?  Not this mawnin’, son.  I got all I can do figurin’ out my own trail.”