The eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.

“Where are we, Billie?” the sick man asked; then added:  “How did we get away from ’em?”

“Went into the brush an’ doubled back to the river.  I’m goin’ to hunt a place where we can lie hid for a few days.”

“Oh, I’ll be all right by mornin’.  Did I fall off my hawss?”

“Yes.  I had to turn your sorrel loose.  Soon as I’ve picked a permanent camp I’ll have to let mine go too.  Some one would be sure to stumble on it an’ go to guessin’.”

After a moment the sick man spoke quietly.  “You’re a good pal, Billie.  I haven’t known many men would take a long chance like this for a fellow they hadn’t met a month ago.”

“I’m not forgettin’ how you rode up Escondido when I asked you to go.”

“You got a lot of sabe, too.  You don’t go bullin’ Into a fight when there’s a good reason for stayin’ out.  At Tolleson’s if you had drawn yore gun when the shootin’ was on, the whole Lazy S M would have pitched in an’ riddled us both.  They kept out because you did.  That gave me a chance to come through alive.”

The Texan registered embarrassment with a grin.  “Yes, I’m the boy wonder of the Brazos,” he admitted.

A faint, unexpected gleam of humor lay for a moment in the eyes of the sick man.  “I got you where the wool’s short, Billie.  I can throw bouquets at you an’ you got to stand hitched because I’m sick.  Doc says to humor me.  If I holler for the moon you climb up an’ get it.”

“I’ll rope it for you,” assented the cowpuncher.  “How’s the game shoulder?”

“Hurts like Heligoland.  Say, ain’t I due for one of them sleep powders Doc fixed up so careful?”

His companion gave him one, after which he folded his coat and put it under the head of Clanton, Over him he threw a saddle blanket.

“Back soon,” he promised.

The sick man nodded weakly.

Billie swung to the saddle and turned down the river.  Unfortunately the country here was an open one.  Along the sandy shore of the stream the mesquite was thin.  There was no soapweed and very little cactus.  The terrain of the hill country farther back was rougher, more full of pockets, and covered with heavier brush.  But it was necessary for the fugitives to remain close to water.

What Prince hoped to find was some sort of cave or overhanging ledge of shale under which they could lie hidden until Jim’s strength returned sufficiently to permit of travel.  The problem would be at best a difficult one.  They had little food, scarce dared light a fire, and Clanton was in no condition to stand exposure in case the weather grew bad.  Even if the boy weathered the sickness, it would not be possible for him to walk hundreds of miles in his weakened condition.  But this was a matter which did not press for an answer.  Billie intended to cross no bridges until he came to them.  Just now he must focus his mind on keeping the wounded man alive and out of the hands of his enemies.