"Why do you think so?"
"It is a fancy of mine."
"Well, I will not contradict you. For her sake I would hate to see any evil befall him."
There was a cynical smile on the face of the young man with auburn hair.
"If a woman loved him, she ought, not to leave him, for his life is mighty uncertain," said the latter. "I heard him say to Captain Chichester, not half an hour ago, that he didn't believe he would live long, and such a man as he is sure to die with his boots on!"
"Did he say that?" asked the traveler.
"Yes; and he seemed to feel it, too. He had to do as I do, fire up with something strong to get life into his veins."
"Poor fellow! He had better have staid East when he was there, away from this wild and lawless section."
"Stranger, there mayn't be much law out this way, but justice isn't always blind out here. If you stay long enough, you may learn that."
"Very likely; but you spoke of going to those Black Hills."