. Now, I ain't got nothin' ag'in' that little ole
Fernando man, 'specially as it was him cut the rope that was snakin' me
to glory onct. I ain't got nothin' ag'in' him, or nobody. Mebby Fade
did set after them sheep. Mebby Fernando knows it and sets after him.
Mebby he squats in them cotton-woods by the ford and 'Pom!' goes
somethin' and pore Fadeaway sure makes his name good. Never did like
him, but I ain't got nothin' ag'in' him now. You see, Chance, he's
quit bein' mean, now. And say, gettin' killed ain't no dream. I been
there three, four times myself--all but the singin'. Two wrecks, one
shootin', and one can o' beans that was sick. It sure ain't no fun.
Wonder if gettin' killed that way will square Fade with the Big Boss
over there? I reckon not. 'T ain't what a fella gets done to him that
counts. It's what he does to the other guy, good or bad. Now, take
them martyrs what my pal Billy used to talk about. They was always
standin' 'round gettin' burned and punctured with arrers, and
lengthened out and shortened up when they ought to been takin' boxin'
lessons or sords or somethin'. Huh! I never took much stock in them.
If it's what a fella gets _done_ to him, it's easy money I'll be takin'
tickets at the gate instead of crawlin' under the canvas--and mebby
tryin' to sneak you in, too--eh, Chance?"

To all of which the great wolf-dog listened with exemplary patience.
He would have preferred action, but not unlike many human beings who
strive to appear profound under a broadside of philosophical eloquence,
applauding each bursting shrapnel of platitudes by mentally wagging
their tails, Chance wagged his tail, impressed more by the detonation
than the substance. And Chance was quite a superior dog, as dogs go.

When Sundown finally arrived at the Concho, he was met by Bud Shoop,
who questioned him. Sundown gave a detailed account of his recent
exploration.

"You say they was no burros at the camp--no tarp, or grub, or nothin'?"

"Nope. Nothin' but a dead fire," replied Sundown.

"Any sheep?"

"Mebby four or five. Didn't count 'em."

"Huh! Wonder where the rest of the greaser's herd is grazin'?"

"I dunno. I rode straight acrost to here."

"Looks mighty queer to me," commented the foreman. "I take it that
Fernando's lit out."

"Will they pinch the boss?" queried Sundown.

"I don' know. Anyhow, they can't prove it on him. Even if Jack
did--and I don't mind sayin' it to you--plug Fa