se on the other side. How'll you get to El Paso? Griffith'll likely
come down here about an hour by sun, 'cross lots, a-cryin'."

"I'll manage that," said Gibson curtly enough. "You tend to your own
affair."

"Oh, all right!" Jeff rode ahead. He whistled; then he chanted his war
song:

"Said the little Eohippus:
'I'm going to be a horse!
And on my middle fingernails
To run my earthly course!'
The Coryphodon was horrified;
The Dinoceras was shocked;
And they chased young Eohippus,
But he skipped away and mocked.

"Said they: 'You always were as small
And mean as now we see,
And that's conclusive evidence
That you're always going to be.
What! Be a great, tall, handsome beast,
With hoofs to gallop on?
Why! You'd have to change your nature!'
Said the Loxolophodon."

"Jeff!"

"Well?" Jeff turned his head. Charley was drooping visibly.

"Stop that foolish song!"

Jeff rode on in silence. This was a variable person, Gibson. They were
dropping down from the mesa into the valley of the Rio Grande.

"Jeff!"

Jeff fell back beside Charley. "Tired, pardner?"

"Jeff, I'm terribly tired! I'm not used to riding so far; and I'm
sleepy--so sleepy!"

"All right, pardner; we'll go slower. We'll walk. Most there now.
There's the railroad."

"Keep on trotting. I can stand it. We must get to the river before
daylight. Is it far?" Charley's voice was weary. The broad sombrero
drooped sympathetically.

"Two miles to the river. El Paso's seven or eight miles up the line.
Brace up, old man! You've done fine and dandy! It's just because the
excitement is all over. Why should you go any farther, anyhow? There's
Ysleta up the track a bit. Follow the road up there and flag the first
train. That'll be best."

"No, no. I'll go all the way. I'll make out." Charley straightened
himself with an effort.

They crossed the Espee tracks and came to a lane between cultivated
fields.

"Jeff! I'd like to say something. It won't be breaking my promise
really.... I didn't mean what I said about--you know. I was only
teasing. She's a good enough girl, I guess--as girls go."

Jeff nodded. "I did not need to be told that."

"And you left her in a cruel position when you jumped out of the
window. She _can't_ tell now, so long as there's any other way. What a
foolish thing to do! If you'd just said at first that you were in the
garden----Oh