"P'r'aps YOU'RE a preacher?"
"I am."
"Can you come to a dying man?"
"I will."
The two men again looked at each other. "But," continued Gideon, softly, "you'll please keep quiet so as not to disturb the widow and her children, while I get my horse." He turned away; the younger man made a movement as if to stop him, but the elder quickly restrained his hand. "He isn't goin' to run away," he whispered. "Look," he added, as Gideon a moment later reappeared mounted and equipped.
"Do you think we'll be in time?" asked the young preacher as they rode quickly away in the direction of the tules.
The younger repressed a laugh; the other answered grimly, "I reckon."
"And is he conscious of his danger?"
"I reckon."
Gideon did not speak again. But as the onus of that silence seemed to rest upon the other two, the last speaker, after a few moments' silent and rapid riding, continued abruptly, "You don't seem curious?"