"I can!" he exclaimed. "I can, an' I will."
The girl sprang to her feet and stared at him.
"No! no!" she cried, in horror. "What would——"
But Texas had already turned and was striding off in excitement.
"Gosh!" he muttered. "That's jes' the thing! I'll tell Mark fo' her, ef she kaint. An' anyhow, I couldn't keep a secret from Mark. Dog gone it, I'd have to ask his advice. This yere's a 'portant matter."
Texas heard Mary Adams crying out to him to come back, imploring him to listen to her. But Texas, once well out of that embarrassing fix and beyond the spell of the beautiful girl had no idea of returning to his uncomfortable position. And to his rough old heart there was no reason on earth why he should not tell Mark. Who else ought to know it but Mark?
"An'," muttered Texas, "ef she ain't got sense 'nough to tell him, I will."
So, deaf to the girl's entreaties, he left her to bemoan her fate alone and set out in hot haste for camp.