"All right, pardner; we'll go slower. We'll walk. Most there now. There's the railroad."
"Keep on trotting. I can stand it. We must get to the river before daylight. Is it far?" Charley's voice was weary. The broad sombrero drooped sympathetically.
"Two miles to the river. El Paso's seven or eight miles up the line. Brace up, old man! You've done fine and dandy! It's just because the excitement is all over. Why should you go any farther, anyhow? There's Ysleta up the track a bit. Follow the road up there and flag the first train. That'll be best."
"No, no. I'll go all the way. I'll make out." Charley straightened himself with an effort.
They crossed the Espee tracks and came to a lane between cultivated fields.
"Jeff! I'd like to say something. It won't be breaking my promise really.... I didn't mean what I said about--you know. I was only teasing. She's a good enough girl, I guess--as girls go."
Jeff nodded. "I did not need to be told that."
"And you left her in a cruel position when you jumped out of the window. She _can't_ tell now, so long as there's any other way. What a foolish thing to do! If you'd just said at first that you were in the garden----Oh, why didn't you? But after the chances you took rather than to tell--why, Jeff, it would be terrible for her now."
"I know that, too," said Jeff. "I suppose I was a fool; but I didn't want her to get mixed up with it, and at the same time I cared less about hanging than any time I can remember. You see, I didn't know till the last minute that the garden was going to cut any figure. And do you suppose I'd have that courthouseful of fools buzzing and whispering at her? Not much! Maybe it was foolish--but I'm glad I did it."
"I'm glad of it, too. If you had to be a fool," said Charley, "I'm glad you were that kind of a fool. Are you still mad at me?"
Since Charley had recanted, and more especially since he had taken considerate thought for the girl's compulsory silence, Jeff's anger had evaporated.
"That's all right, pardner.... Only you oughtn't never to talk that way about a girl--even for a joke. That's no good kind of a joke. Men, now, that's different. See here, I'll give you an order to a fellow in El Paso--Hibler--to pay for your horses and your gun. Here's your belt, too."