"It amounts to pretty much that."
"Has Thomas quit also?"
"When a man knows that he's to be arrested, he ain't likely to hang 'round so's the warrant can be served without much trouble to the constable. But jest now Bill isn't in a condition to work for anybody."
"What's the matter?"
"He broke his leg, an' a lot of the boys have brought him to the Widder Byram's house."
"I hadn't heard of that."
"It'll come kinder rough on the constable."
"I understand to what you refer, Brace, and am not pleased to hear you speak in such a manner."
"It can't be helped, sir. When a feller sees them as risked everything to do the company a good turn while Billings had full sway, run down an' chucked into jail for nothin', it makes him feel sore."