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"Do you think I'm done for?" he asked in a tortured whisper

"Nothin' doin'," lied Billy cheerfully "Just a scratch You'll be all right in a day or two"

Eddie shook his head wearily "I wish I could believe you," he said "I ben figgerin' on goin' back to see ht o' nothin' else since you told ht now just like I was there I'll bet she's scrubbin' the kitchen floor Maas always a-scrubbin' soh to cash in like this just when I was figgerin' on goin' ho to say He turned to look up and down the canyon in search of the enemy

"Home!" whispered Eddie "Hoet hoht, kid The boysin no time now Then we'll clean up this bunch o' coons an' have you back to El Orobo an' nursed into shape in no time"

Eddie tried to smile as he looked up into the other's face He reached a hand out and laid it on Billy's arht, old man," he whispered "I know you're lyin' an' so do you; but it s"

Billy felt as one who has been caught stealing from a blind man The only adequate reply of which he could think was, "Aw, shucks!"

"Say," said Eddie after a o back to the States promise me you'll look up maw and paw an' tell 'em I was comin' home--to stay Tell 'em I died decent, too, will you--died like paas always a-tellin' e somewheres"

"Sure," said Billy; "I'll tell 'em Gee! Look who's coround just as a bullet pinged against the rock above his head and the report of a rifle sounded froot me I'll have to be 'tendin' to business better'n this"

He drew himself slowly up upon his elbows, his carbine ready in his hand, and peered through a small aperture between two of the rocks which composed his breastwork Then he stuck the er