Hardly had this idea occurred to him than he turned it down.
“That would be fool’s play,” he declared, aloud, so that Jupiter might hear him, and perhaps understand what motives influenced his actions. “They’d keep right on after us, and sooner or later we’d
just have to haul up and fight it out. So what’s the use changing base? If it’s got to come, this is as good a place as any. And if I’ve been and got anywhere near the border of the desert, what a goose I’d be to head back into it again, when that sand storm may commence in the morning. No sir-ee, here I take my stand, come what will; and that’s all there is to it!”
Somehow Billie felt better after all that heroic talk. It does brace one up to exhibit such defiance, say what you will about it.
He no longer lay there on his blanket, but was on his feet. The first thing he did proved that Billie was getting on, and no longer the greenhorn he had been; for he made sure to secure the canteen; in case Jupiter took it into his head to run away, he would not carry off this priceless article with him.
That proved to be one of the smartest things the boy had ever done in all his life, and showed how he was waking up these days, under the new conditions which surrounded him, making him think for himself. For the terrified pony did presently jerk loose, and go galloping away, much to the chagrin of his owner.
However, there was no time now for crying over spilt milk, as Billie told himself. The approaching wolves were very close, and would soon be upon him.
Billie tried to figure out whether the cowardly
creatures would attack him immediately; or after their customary manner, hang about in a circle at an ever decreasing distance, waiting for him to be overpowered by sleep.
“Looks like I’m up against it,” he said aloud; “and let’s see how a Winkle can pull through. There’s lots of ’em been soldiers, and never yet did one turn out to be a coward; and I ain’t meaning to be the first, hear that?”