"Before ever we were born our folks were walkin' across the plains together." "When your folks was waitin' for the railroad to be built an' all the Indians killed off before they dasted to start for California," was Billy's way of proclaiming the new alliance.

"We're the real goods, Saxon an'n me, if anybody should ride up on a buzz-wagon an' ask you." "Oh, I don't know," Mary boasted with quiet petulance.

"My father stayed behind to fight in the Civil War.

He was a drummer-boy.

That's why he didn't come to California until afterward." "And my father went back to fight in the Civil War," Saxon said.
"And mine, too," said Billy.
They looked at each other gleefully.