Meanwhile the party had moved North, taking us with them, and, as it happened, just missing a posse who were returning from the desert.
"When I was able to get about I told Alluna that I must be going, but as I told her I watched her face, and saw the sign I wanted--the white girl had clutched at her like she had at me, and she couldn't give her up, so I made a dicker with her old man.

It took all the money I had to buy that squaw, but I knew the kiddie must have a woman's care; and the three of us started out soon after, alone, and broke, and aimless--and we've been going ever since.
"That's the heart of the story, Lieutenant, and that's how I started to drift.

Since then we three have never rested.

I left them once in Idaho and went back to Mesa, riding all the way, mostly by night, but Bennett was gone.

He'd run down mighty fast after Merridy died, so I heard, growing sullen and uglier day by day--and I reckon I was the only one who knew why--till he had a killing in his place.