"You may well talk," Adam broke in upon Lambert's self-communings.
"Why?" asked Lambert.
"Should they pull the scalp from over your ears no rooster would crow after that; but my mother would weep her eyes out."
"Perhaps there may be somebody who would rather see my scalp on my head than on an Indian's girdle."
"Do you mean the young lady?" asked Adam, opening his mouth from ear to ear, and for a moment letting go of the horn of the saddle, and pointing back over his shoulder with his thumb.
"Perhaps," said Lambert.
"Don't trouble yourself about that," said Adam, in a comforting tone. "Then I will marry her. It is already a long time since mother wanted me to marry. But you know I would not take just anybody. The girl pleases me."
"So!" said Lambert.
"Yes," said Adam. "Barbara and Gussie and Annie would doubtless at first cry a little, but that would come right in time. I believe that Fritz and August Volz are already engaged to Barbara and Gussie, and we have always thought that you would marry Annie."
"With or without a scalp?" asked Lambert.