"I am hurt as well as Badger."
"Sorry for that."
"And you two must help us on our horses and get us away from here."
"Of course we'll stick by you," said the landlord. "But atween you and me and the rock, Mr. Shirley, I kinder think, perhaps, it mout be better, if so be you steered cl'ar of Hurley's Gulch for awhile——"
The man stopped suddenly, his attention being attracted by the barking of a dog in the distance.
[CHAPTER XXXVI.—TO THE RESCUE.]
Badger and Shirley were carried from under the rock, but when it came to lifting them on the horses it was found that they were too much injured to ride.
"Thar ain't no use in my tryin' it," groaned Badger. "I can't sit in the saddle."
"Then what's to be did?" asked the landlord.
"Hide me away, and when daylight comes send some of the boys after me with a stretcher."