Bettles, himself one of the gamest of the old-timers in deeds and daring ceased from his drunken lay of the "Sassafras Root," and titubated over to congratulate Daylight.

But in the midst of it he felt impelled to make a speech, and raised his voice oratorically.
"I tell you fellers I'm plum proud to call Daylight my friend.

We've hit the trail together afore now, and he's eighteen carat from his moccasins up, damn his mangy old hide, anyway.

He was a shaver when he first hit this country.

When you fellers was his age, you wa'n't dry behind the ears yet.