"Most likely we will before mornin', or before noon anyhow. If we don't, we must go on till we do."
"Kill all the mules?"
"They'll all die if we don't, sure's my name's Pine—Yellow Pine."
"They can't stand it—"
"They can stand anything but starvation. Did you ever try giving up water?"
"No; did you?"
"Well, I did. I was glad to give up giving it up after a few days. It's the queerest feeling you ever had."
"How'd it happen?"
"I don't feel like tellin' about it jest now. There's too good a chance for tryin' it again to suit me."
"Is that so? Pine, do you know, I wish you'd tell me how they came to call you Yellow Pine."