'Well, sir, I'd ruther be done good to more gently, for if thishyer's a cure for indigestion as the cook reckons, it should be a root cure and no fatal error. And now I rek'lects it was you as stopped that boy Bertie from doin' suthin' he'd ha' bin mighty sorry for! Sir, I thank you! I was mighty sick at that moment, and I felt near my latter end, and was helpless as a babe.'
Forder grinned.
'Excuse my smilin', partner,' he said, 'but somehow I can't help it when I think of people bein' sea-sick.'
Arizona sighed.
'Grin, my son, I ain't complainin'. It makes me smile to see a tenderfoot tackle a buckin' horse. I reckon I'm a tenderfoot at sea.'
'Do you know Fort Worth?' asked Forder.
'Do I know my dear yearthly home from the cold clouds of heaven?' asked Arizona contemptuously. 'I know Fort Worth like ez if it wuz my pants. Wuz you ever thar?'
'Ay,' said Forder, 'I was flat bust there, and slung hash for a month at Canadian Pete's.'
Arizona held out a limp hand.
'Shake, pard,' he said. And Forder shook.