"Yes, Collins."
"What brought you fellows out here?"
"Can't you guess?"
"I can, but I'd rather you'd tell me."
"And you won't think no harder of me for it."
"Badger," replied Collins, "I can't think of anything you could do—unless you chanced to be decent—that would make me think any different of you than I do now."
"Wa'al, I reckon I ain't got long to live, so I'll tell the downright truth for once——"
"What is it?"
"Shirley, Jake and another feller came out with me to do for young Willett, but we didn't connect. Thar, that's all I'll say at present," and Badger closed his eyes and looked to be as dead as the man lying by his side.
"Men that starts out to make the life-path hard for other folks," said Collins, with much feeling in his voice, "generally fetches up with a short turn themselves, and falls into the pit dug for others. Now, boys, what's best to be did next?"