“Uh-huh. I still had the lead-rope when I fell. Gee, I shore don’t sabe it, boys. I dunno anybody that hates me enough to pop me in the dark. It’s lucky he didn’t hit any of yuh.”
“Missed me a mile,” grinned Hashknife.
In a few minutes Honey came back carrying a pan of water.
“The girls were scared stiff,” he said. “One of them bullets busted the window on this side, and some of the others hit the house. They want me to sleep in the ranch-house.”
“I’ll bet that makes yuh sore,” grinned Sleepy.
“Aw, jist put some horse-liniment on it and I’ll head for home,” said Slim. “It don’t hurt much.”
“Yo’re not goin’ home tonight,” declared Hashknife. “This is no night for a tall jigger like you to be ridin’. Shuck off yore raiment and pile into Honey’s bunk while me and Sleepy unsaddle yore bronc.”
Slim’s protests were very feeble.
“Curt Bellew will swear I got drunk and forgot to come home.”
“We’ll be yore alibi, Slim,” assured Hashknife. “And more than that, I’m goin’ to need yuh tomorrow.”