“A can of blasting powder that ought to have lifted the whole bunch of them into next week, but that long-haired representative of Uncle Sam and the hot place jumped out just in time to see the fuse, dig the can out of the rocks and throw it into a chasm before it exploded. Oh! if it only had gone off in his hands, instead of three seconds later!”
“Pretty bold thing to do!”
“Curse him, yes. He isn’t afraid of man or devil, and it is his everlasting readiness to act and take the chances that wins. If I’d been ten seconds later he’d probably pumped me full of lead, into the bargain!”
“He’s a bad man to buck up against; I’ve found that out, Ike.”
“Well, I said we’ve got to get out of this place, and the sooner we go the better—are you ready?”
“Which way shall we go—out across the plain again?”
“Great Scott! no. They’ve got horses and would pick us up as soon as light. We’ve got to stick to the mountains, where a horse can’t go, and keep out of sight—and keep going. I’d rather have old Split-hoof, himself, on my trail than Buffalo Bill.”
“We can’t live in these mountains long—there isn’t so much as a catamount to eat.”
“We’ll have to go hungry, then, for I’m going to keep as far from Cody as possible.”