"Yes, I suppose they are. And always will be. And I'll never, never, never give in till I die!"
Stooping down he ran the pole through its leather loops, picked up a paddle and seated himself on the box.
"What are you going to do, little man?" Loring asked, "when you go down?"
"Depends."
"What on?"
"The state of the world," Raney answered. "As soon as I've finished here, I've got money to make, and when I've done that, I'm going to marry a beautiful wife. And then ... and then ... I'm not quite sure, I've only seen the surface of this country. Folk here have been real good to me; I'd like to do something in return. I.... No, Jim, don't ask me to tell you. Now and again I see visions, but you're so damned unenthusiastic.... And people who talk about what they're going to do, never seem to do anything at all. Wait till I've got something to show, something better than a 'maximum of effort and a minimum of result....'"
"You've not done badly so far," I put in.
He snorted contemptuously.
"If you've got faith...."
Loring settled himself more comfortably on the cushions.