There’s four candidates for sheriff this fall an’ folks has kind of let it be known, sub rosy, that the one that brings you in, gathers the votes.  In the absence of any corpse delecti, which in this case means yourn, folks refuses to assume you was hung, so each one of them four candidates is right now scouring the country with a posse.  All this he imparts to me while he was throwin’ that outfit of clothes together an’ further he adds that I’m under suspicion for aidin’ an’ abettin’, an’ that means life with hard labour if I’m caught with the goods—­an’, Win, you’re the goods.  Therefore, you’ll confer a favour on me by not getting caught, an’ incidentally save yourself a hangin’.  Once we get into the bad lands we’re all to the good, but even then you’ve got to keep shy of folks.  Duck out of sight when you first see any one.  Don’t have nothin’ to say to no one under no circumstances.  If you do chance onto someone where you can’t do nothin’ else you’ll have to lie to ’em.  Personal, I don’t favour lyin’ only as a last resort, an’ then in moderation.  Of course, down in the bad lands, most of the folks will be on the run like we are, an’ not no more anxious for to hold a caucus than us.  You don’t have to be so particular there, ’cause likely all they’ll do when they run onto you will be to take a shot at you, an’ beat it.  We’ve got to lay low in the bad lands about a week or so, an’ after that folks will have somethin’ else on their mind an’ we can slip acrost to the N. P.”

“See here, Tex, this thing has gone far enough.”  There was a note of determination in Endicott’s voice as he continued:  “I cannot permit you to further jeopardize yourself on my account.  You have already neglected your business, incurred no end of hard work, and risked life, limb, and freedom to get me out of a scrape.  I fully appreciate that I am already under heavier obligation to you than I can ever repay.  But from here on, I am going it alone.  Just indicate the general direction of the N. P. and I will find it.  I know that you and Bat will see that Miss Marcum reaches the railway in safety, and——­”

“Hold on, Win!  That oration of yourn ain’t got us no hell of a ways, an’ already it’s wandered about four school-sections off the trail.  In the first place, it’s me an’ not you that does the permittin’ for this outfit.  I’ve undertook to get you acrost to the N. P. I never started anythin’ yet that I ain’t finished.  Take this bottle of hooch here—­I’ve started her, an’ I’ll finish her.  There’s just as much chance I won’t take you acrost to the N. P., as that I won’t finish that bottle—­an’ that’s damn little.

“About neglectin’ my business, as you mentioned, that ain’t worryin’ me none, because the wagon boss specified particular an’ onmistakeable that if any of us misguided sons of guns didn’t show up on the job the mornin’ followin’ the dance, we might’s well keep on ridin’ as far as that outfit was concerned, so it’s undoubtable that the cow business is bein’ carried on satisfactory durin’ my temporary absence.