I didn't mind that part of
it--that was fun, but it didn't last over twenty minutes. After the
tree grounded, I had to tramp up and down through this ankle-deep mud
to keep from freezing. I didn't dare to go any place for fear of
getting lost. I thought at first, when the water went down I would
follow back up the valley, but I couldn't find the sides and after one
or two false starts I gave it up. Then Bat showed up at daylight and
we managed to build a fire." Endicott divided the biscuits and
proceeded to devour his share.
Tex rolled a cigarette. "Say," he drawled, when he had lighted it with
a twig from the fire, "what the hell did you whallop me in the jaw for?
I seen it comin' but I couldn't dodge, an' when she hit--it seemed like
I was all tucked away in my little crib, an' somewhere, sweet voices
was singin'."
"I had to do it," laughed Endicott. "It was that, or both of us going
to the bottom. You were grabbing for my arms and legs."
"I ain't holdin' it against you," grinned Tex. "The arms an' legs is
yours, an' you're welcome to 'em. Also I'm obliged to you for
permittin' me to tarry a spell longer on this mundane spear, as the
fellow says, even if I can't chew nothin' harder'n soup."
"Would you mind rolling me a cigarette," grinned Endicott, as he
finished the last of the biscuits.
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