"Where are we now, Ike? At the end of the rope, eh?"
"No, by the livin' Gimmini! but gettin' there on the jump," said Ike, with grave emphasis.
Without further conversation they made their way through the dark streets till they reached Ike's shack.
The doctor lay still asleep in the corner.
"He kidnapped him," was Ike's explanation to The Kid, nodding his head toward Shock. "So I'd advise that you hitch on to the preacher here for a period. Give him the job of windin' you up."
"Could you undertake that, do you think?" There was a curious smile on the boy's face, but an undertone of seriousness in his voice.
"No," said Shock gravely, "I could not undertake that."
"You see, Ike, I am too uncertain. Too far gone, I guess."
Ike was too puzzled to reply. He had a kind of dim idea that in Shock there was some help for his boss, and he was disappointed at Shock's answer.
For some time Shock sat in silence, looking at the fire. His heart was sore. He felt his helplessness. This clever, gay-hearted young fellow, with all his gentleness of manner, was unapproachable. He belonged to another world, and yet Shock yearned over him with a tenderness inexplicable to himself. The Kid gave him no opening. There was a kind of gay defiance in his bearing, as if he had read Shock's heart and were determined to keep him at arm's length. Instinctively Shock knew that he must wait his opportunity.