“I am thinkin' about it. I'm choppin' sixty of 'em off every minute.”
With such chopping time wears away. More miles of the road lay behind them, and in the virgin wilderness the scars of new-scraped water ditches began to appear, and the first wire fences. Next, they were passing cabins and occasional fields, the outposts of habitation. The free road became wholly imprisoned, running between unbroken stretches of barbed wire. Far off to the eastward a flowing column of dust marked the approaching stage, bringing the bishop, probably, for whose visit here they had timed their wedding. The day still brimmed with heat and sunshine; but the great daily shadow was beginning to move from the feet of the Bow Leg Mountains outward toward the town. Presently they began to meet citizens. Some of these knew them and nodded, while some did not, and stared. Turning a corner into the town's chief street, where stood the hotel, the bank, the drug store, the general store, and the seven saloons, they were hailed heartily. Here were three friends,—Honey Wiggin, Scipio Le Moyne, and Lin McLean,—all desirous of drinking the Virginian's health, if his lady—would she mind? The three stood grinning, with their hats off; but behind their gayety the Virginian read some other purpose.
“We'll all be very good,” said Honey Wiggin.
“Pretty good,” said Lin.
“Good,” said Scipio.
“Which is the honest man?” inquired Molly, glad to see them.
“Not one!” said the Virginian. “My old friends scare me when I think of their ways.”
“It's bein' engaged scares yu',” retorted Mr. McLean. “Marriage restores your courage, I find.”
“Well, I'll trust all of you,” said Molly. “He's going to take me to the hotel, and then you can drink his health as much as you please.”
With a smile to them she turned to proceed, and he let his horse move with hers; but he looked at his friends. Then Scipio's bleached blue eyes narrowed to a slit, and he said what they had all come out on the street to say:— “Don't change your clothes.”