“We’re all in the same box, Ike—any of us would knife the guard for a run and take the chances of decorating a rope. But most anything goes in this wild country—it’s every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.”
“An’ the man that’s slow with his gun is the rear man every time, I notice. Eh, Price?”
“You hit the bull’s-eye, Ike, but you haven’t said it all. I reckon I’ve got to keep my gun ready, and be quicker than greased lightning till I get out of this territory. Every man-jack, red and white, seems looking for my scalp, except a few like you and Pete.”
“Keep a stiff upper lip, old man. I’m with you, and the liveliest ghost Buffalo Bill and his pards ever run up against. I want just one more whack at that crowd.”
“I hope you get it, Ike, and redeem your reputation. Your giant powder seemed hoodooed over Bozeman way.”
“I’ve got a new lot in my bag, and it’s good for a free ticket for the whole bunch of trail hunters, if I can get a chance to put it under ’em.”
“I hope you get the chance, but I want first and most to get as far from these Yankton Sioux and Crows as possible. I want to hit south and make Laramie City before I stop. Then I propose to prance in a different harness for a while.”
“Do you know which way Buffalo Bill went after the round-up?”
“Yes, I was particular to keep my ears open till I was sure of the course he was steering. He went to Helena to rustle the boys up there.”
“What do the soldiers think of Cody?”