"How long has he been gone?"
"A little over an hour."
"Oh, that ain't bad. You can't lose Steve."
"No, of course not. I thought it was longer."
"What time is it?"
"Twenty minutes after ten by my watch. But I don't really know what time it is."
"Well, there ain't much use knowin'. Time is queer anyway on a prairie. Sometimes it takes a considerable while for it to go past. And then again, as the other fellow said, 'Time is shorter than it is long.' Maybe if you are sleepy you 'd better go to bed."
"Well—I believe I will. I don't suppose I had better wait any longer. Will you find a place to sleep? Maybe you will want to use my slicker."
"Oh, I 'm all right. I 'll just chase away these cattle and roll in under the wagon. And if you should hear me serrynadin' you with a horse-fiddle after a while, don't be scared. That's me snoring. I 'm what they call a sound sleeper."
"Good-night, Mr. Hicks."