Part 17 (1/2)
”A what?”
”A pilgrim, or tenderfoot, or greener or chechako, or counter-jumper, owin' to what part of the country you misfit into. We thought you wouldn't have no guts, an' we'd----”
”Any what?”
The Texan regarded the other hopelessly. ”Oh h.e.l.l!” he muttered disgustedly. ”Can't you talk no English? Where was you raised?”
The other laughed. ”Go on, I will try to follow you.”
”I can't chop 'em up no finer than one syllable. But I'll shorten up the dose sufficient for your understandin' to grasp. It's this way: D'you know what a frame-up is?”
Endicott nodded.
”Well, Choteau County politics is in such a condition of onwee that a hangin' would be a reg'lar tonic for the party that's in; which it's kind of bogged down into an old maid's tea party. Felonious takin's-off has be'n common enough, but there hasn't no hangin's resulted, for the reason that in every case the hangee has got friends or relations of votin' influence. Now, along comes you without no votin' connections an' picks off Purdy, which he's cla.s.sed amongst human bein's, an' is therefore felonious to kill. There ain't nothin'
to it. They'd be poundin' away on the scaffold an' testin' the rope while the trial was goin' on. Besides which you'd have to linger in a crummy jail for a couple of months waitin' for the grand jury to set on you. A few of us boys seen how things was framed an' we took the liberty to turn you loose, not because we cared a d.a.m.n about you, but we'd hate to see even a snake hung fer killin' Purdy which his folks done a wrong to humanity by raisin' him.
”The way the thing is now, if the boys plays the game accordin' to Hoyle, there won't be no posses out huntin' you 'cause folks will all think you was lynched. But even if they is a posse or two, which the chances is there will be, owin' to the loosenin' effect of spiritorious licker on the tongue, which it will be indulged in liberal when that bunch hits town, we can slip down into the bad lands an' lay low for a while, an' then on to the N. P. an' you can get out of the country.”
Endicott extended his hand: ”I thank you,” he said. ”It is certainly white of you boys to go out of your way to help a perfect stranger. I have no desire to thrust my neck into a noose to further the ends of politics. One experience of the kind is quite sufficient.”
”Never mind oratin' no card of thanks. Just you climb up into the middle of that bronc an' we'll be hittin' the trail. We got quite some ridin' to do before we get to the bad lands--an' quite some after.”
Endicott reached for the bridle reins of his horse which was cropping gra.s.s a few feet distant.
”But Alice--Miss Marc.u.m!” With the reins in his hand he faced the Texan. ”I must let her know I am safe. She will think I have been lynched and----”
”She's goin' along,” interrupted the Texan, gruffly.
”Going along!”
”Yes, she was bound to see you through because what you done was on her account. Bat an' her'll be waitin' for us at Snake Creek crossin'.”
”Who is Bat?”
”He's a breed.”
”A what?”
”Wait an' see!” growled Tex. ”Come on; we can't set here 'til you get educated. You'd ought to went to school when you was young.”
Endicott reached for a stirrup and the horse leaped sidewise with a snort of fear. Again and again the man tried to insert a foot into the broad wooden stirrup, but always the horse jerked away. Round and round in a circle they went, while the Texan sat in his saddle and rolled a cigarette.
”Might try the other one,” he drawled, as he struck a match. ”Don't you know no better than to try to climb onto a horse on the right-hand side? You must of be'n brought up on G-Dots.”
”What's a G-Dot?”
”There you go again. Do I look like a school-marm? A G-Dot is an Injun horse an' you can get on 'em from both sides or endways. Come on; Snake Creek crossin' is a good fifteen miles from here, an' we better pull out of this coulee while the moon holds.”
Endicott managed to mount, and gathering up the reins urged his horse forward. But the animal refused to go and despite the man's utmost efforts, backed farther and farther into the brush.
”Just shove on them bridle reins a little,” observed the Texan dryly.