"That's right. She'd think a heap more o' me if I was to pull out o' these yere hills and try to strike it somewheres else."
"Wal, squatters have made this no kind o' country for a white man. Ye're white, John."
"I aim ter be."
"You air, sonnie. Say, if anything happened to me, would ye watch out for Mints?"
"I wonder!"
"S'pose, fer the sake of argyment, that one o' these sons o' guns did for me--hay?"
"'Tain't likely," said Smoky scornfully. "I'd bet my boots on you every time."
"They may do fer me," said Ransom slowly, "and, if so----"
"I'll watch out for Mints," said Smoky very fervently.
* * * * *