have to linger in a
crummy jail for a couple of months waitin' for the grand jury to set on
you. A few of us boys seen how things was framed an' we took the
liberty to turn you loose, not because we cared a damn about you, but
we'd hate to see even a snake hung fer killin' Purdy which his folks
done a wrong to humanity by raisin' him.

"The way the thing is now, if the boys plays the game accordin' to
Hoyle, there won't be no posses out huntin' you 'cause folks will all
think you was lynched. But even if they is a posse or two, which the
chances is there will be, owin' to the loosenin' effect of spiritorious
licker on the tongue, which it will be indulged in liberal when that
bunch hits town, we can slip down into the bad lands an' lay low for a
while, an' then on to the N. P. an' you can get out of the country."

Endicott extended his hand: "I thank you," he said. "It is certainly
white of you boys to go out of your way to help a perfect stranger. I
have no desire to thrust my neck into a noose to further the ends of
politics. One experience of the kind is quite sufficient."

"Never mind oratin' no card of thanks. Just you climb up into the
middle of that bronc an' we'll be hittin' the trail. We got quite some
ridin' to do before we get to the bad lands--an' quite some after."

Endicott reached for the bridle reins of his horse which was cropping
grass a few feet distant.

"But Alice--Miss Marcum!" With the reins in his hand he faced the
Texan. "I must let her know I am safe. She will think I have been
lynched and----"

"She's goin' along," interrupted the Texan, gruffly.

"Going along!"

"Yes, she was bound to see you through because what you done was on her
account. Bat an' her'll be waitin' for us at Snake Creek crossin'."

"Who is Bat?"

"He's a breed."

"A what?"

"Wait an' see!" growled Tex. "Come on; we can't set here 'til you get
educated. You'd ought to went to school when you was young."

Endicott reached for a stirrup and the horse leaped sidewise with a
snort of fear. Again and again the man tried to insert a foot into the
broad wooden stirrup, but always the horse jerked away. Round and
round in a circle they went, while the Texan sat in his saddle and
rolled a cigarette.

"Might try the other one," he drawled, as he struck a match. "Don't
you know no better than to try to climb onto a horse on the right-hand
side? You must of be'n brought up on G-Dots."

"What's a G-D