An so they couldnthave been Jim or Slinger or
Prentiss.
Our appetites are shore not a-rarin, replied Molly.
You never knowed before how turrible sweet water couldbe, did you?
The road is right hyar, he went on, as coolly and
casually as if thatfact was nothing momentous.
Then in a lower tone she added, Molly, I thought
EdDarnell was a villain. Let Uncle Jim fetch the girls, rejoined Curly, stoutly. She
sagged under his grasp, without which she would have fallen.
She had to be helped up on the pinto, which
promptly bucked her off uponthe soft sward. Soon they were mounted and riding in
single file, as on the day before.
An then, like a puff ofsmoke, he lit into crooked
cattle-dealin. And Im notstrong, as youve seen from my miserable frailty on this
ride.
Get down on your knees, you white-faced Easterner,
he ordered, forcingher down.
The bigliving-room shone bright and new with lamp
and blazing fire.
I could stick this in you, Jed Stone, cried Molly,
brandishing thewicked butcher knife. Now, Molly, you an Gloriana draw lots to see
wholl sleep fustnight with me.
When they reached the top he had satisfaction in
the _expression_ of thatyoung womans face. Molly had to stopoften to rescue her
friend, and more than once a scream rent the air. Gloriana knelt erect, her breast
heaving, her eyes wildly magnificent. An we caint dodge whats comin because of whats
past.
Say, darlin, did you wash them slim little paws of
yourn? Stone then struck out along the rim, and he did notneed to pick out a rough
way. Momentarily he hadforgotten his role of slave-driver.
Youre abeautiful thing, but are you
good?
Afterwards Jim had looked for abullethole where he
had aimed, and had found it. Cherry Winters came in at that juncture, carrying a
rifle and a haunch ofvenison.
Jed Stone is an honestto-Gawd desperado,
expostulatedMolly. Croak said he never see a man kick like thet white-cuff,
caird-slicker,Darnell.
See heah, Jed Stone, demanded Molly, loyally, how
could Glory help theway she was brought up? He contrived to drop the biscuit and at
the same instant push the heavyrock off the box seat.
Having finished these tasks, he approached his
prisoners.