"Some nice little meetings they have out here," grinned Endicott. "I
wonder if the vanquished one was a horse-thief or just an ordinary
friend."
Alice returned the smile: "You used to rather go in for boxing in
college, didn't you?"
"Oh, yes. I can hold my own when it comes to fists----
"And--you can shoot."
The man shook his head: "Do you know that was the first time I ever
fired a pistol in my life. I don't like to think about it. And yet--I
am always thinking about it! I have killed a man--have taken a human
life. I did it without malice--without forethought. All I knew was
that you were in danger, then I saw him fling you from him--the pistol
was in my hand, and I fired."
"You need have no regrets," answered the girl, quickly. "It was his
life or both of ours--worse than that--a thousand times worse."
Endicott was silent as the two turned toward the plateau. "Why,
there's Bat's horse, trotting over to join the others, and unsaddled,
too," cried Alice. "He has beaten Tex to camp. Bat is a dear, and he
just adores the ground Tex walks on, or 'rides on' would be more
appropriate, for I don't think he ever walked more than a hundred feet
in his life."
Sure enough, when they reached camp there sat the half-breed placidly
mending a blanket, with the bored air of one upon whom time hangs
heavily.
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