Red Steve sank back weakly. Once more Bloom’s flask was used, and he revived a little.
“Wild Bill Hickok,” went on Red Steve painfully, “has done a heap fer me sence he located me hyer last night. He ain’t got no cause ter think much o’ me, but he done all a feller could ter bring me back ter y’arth.”
“I wanted to save you for the law, Steve,” said Wild Bill.
“I know what ye wanted, but—I—fooled—” He paused and pulled himself together with a fierce effort. “I fooled the law,” he finished. “Allers—allers knowed I—I would.”
Then, again, he dropped back. The doctor’s fingers touched his pulse.
“Red Steve has taken the One-way Trail, friends,” said the doctor gravely. “I hold that there’s something good in the worst of us—even in Red Steve. Let us hope that there was enough good in him to help the poor fellow where he’s going now.”
The doctor turned and went out of the hut. Wild Bill gently pulled a fold of the blanket over the face on the floor.
“I’ll send some of my boys from the Star-A to put him away,” said Lige Benner.
“We’re not ready to go to the Star-A ranch yet, Benner,” remarked the scout.
“How much longer will we be?”