It was the rider Judkins who came up and gripped Venters's hand.

"Venters, I could hev dropped when I seen them hosses.
But thet sight ain't a marker to the looks of you.

What's wrong?
Hev you gone crazy?
You must be crazy to ride in here this way--with them hosses--talkie' thet way about Tull en' Jerry Card." "Jud, I'm not crazy--only mad clean through," replied Venters.
"Mad, now, Bern, I'm glad to hear some of your old self in your voice.
Fer when you come up you looked like the corpse of a dead rider with fire fer eyes.

You hed thet crowd too stiff fer throwin' guns.

Come, we've got to hev a talk.