I reckon I 'll go in an' tell him so afore I start." The old man's square jaws set ominously, his gnarled hand dropping heavily on the butt of the Colt dangling at his hip.
"You stay right yere, Stutter, on the dump, and don't yer let one o' them measly sneaks put nary foot on our claim, if yer have ter blow 'em plumb ter hell.

You an' Mike kin tend ter thet all right, an' you bet I 'm goin' ter have some news fer yer when I git home, my boy." He swung around, and strode back along the ledge to the door of the cabin, reappearing scarcely a moment later with a small bundle in his hand.
"Thar 's 'nough grub in thar ter last you an' Mike fer a week yit, an' I 'll be back afore then, er else planted.

_Adios_." Brown sat up, his gun resting between his knees, and in silence watched his partner scrambling down the steep trail.

It was not easy for him to converse, and he therefore never uttered a word unless the situation demanded the sacrifice.

He could swear, however, with considerable fluency, but just now even that relief seemed inadequate.