If youd only shot Malloy when you had the chanct,
said Slinger,moodily.
First off, my Uncle Jim didnt advise me to call on
you.
Well, we only watched the loading for about
twominutes.
And under it had been drawn the rude sketch of a
hash-knife,somehow compelling and suggestive. But he struck me as a man whod
bedangerous to cross. Ive ridden all over Yellow Jacket, Jim, spoke up
Curly.
I got brains an six-sense eyesight, replied the
gloomycowboy.
Made no bones of braggin hed quit the outfitsoon as
hed won our pile. In time this cabin would become a relic of Arizonas
rangedays.
You caint be trusted with a job like
thet.
Stone felt a rush of hot blood to his face, and a
cold tightness of skinas the wave receded. Hewas bareheaded, and the sun shone on a
tanned open countenance.
Id come back sooner, but Slinger slipped up on me
an told meto wait till he got back. Then theyll come back an take it away from you.
An I reckon I was jest seein if I could rile Curly.
I wanted you to know exactly how I stand, went on
Traft, earnestly. We ought to have left the cattle at Barn-bridges ranch, which
Iwanted to do. Always reckonin fer my friends an myboss. And under it had been drawn
the rude sketch of a hash-knife,somehow compelling and suggestive. My name is Traft,
said thet young cowpuncher, an he said it loud.
Campparaphernalia lay around in picturesque
confusion that suited thelounging cowboys.