"Yes, and hurted purty bad, too."
"What's your name?"
"My name's Badger. I'm a terror, I am. I was nussed on blizzards, and rocked by tornadoes. I live on rattlesnakes and horned toads, and when I'm riled its wuss nor a earthquake. Now you are gettin' my dander riz, so come down, for if I have to climb up after you, you'll git hurt."
Badger certainly thought that this fierce speech would have a most depressing effect upon the youth in command of the rock, great therefore was his anger and disappointment when he received this reply.
"Before I am hurt some one else will be in the same fix, for I and my companions propose to defend ourselves."
"But why defend yourselves," said Shirley, "when we mean you nothing but good."
"I do not care to give my reasons; but I'll tell you what I've been thinking ever since I started to reach Hurley's Gulch."
"What's that?"
"That you and the one-eyed ruffian who travels with you are the cause of all my father's troubles——"
"That's a lie!" roared Badger.