"Hung up like a dog! Why don't you finish the sentence?"
"Well, that's just what they did say. But I heerd one what ain't very far from you now, say, he'd be d——d if Captain Hayward should die any such way, and when he had waited till the last minute, if no help came, he would put a bullet right through your heart, and save you from the darn rope, anyway!"
"Brave boy! You have a noble heart," said Hayward, grasping his hand.
"No I hain't. Don't say so, captain, cos when you do, I can't keep these dam water-drops out of my eyes, cos I'm a darn skunk anyway, and ain't worth any such words from you."
"Nettleton, how have you managed to remain with me so long without being suspected?"
"O Lord! I'm such a darn skunk nobody would ever think of suspecting me! They think I don't know any more than a half-grown calf. And I spose I don't!"
"How did you get with me at all?"
"Why, after the fight was over I stood right still, and nobody noticed me, except one feller who said, 'Git out of my way, greeney.' And so I followed on after the rest of 'em, and managed to keep with you ever since. And if I can only do you some good, I shall think I ain't quite such a darn skunk after all."
"Nettleton, I wish you would not use that expression quite so often."
"What expression, captain?"