I'm loath to leave my friends, but my place is at your side, Andrew.

So say no more about it." I knew it was idle to protest.

Ringan was as obstinate as a Spanish mule when he chose, and, besides, there was reason in what he said.

Two were better than one both for speed in travel and for fighting if the need came, and though I had more woodcraft than he, he had ten times my wisdom.

There was something about his matter-of-fact tone which took the enterprise out of the land of impossibilities into a more sober realm.