"Reckon if an Injun was a scalpin' me right on his front doorstep he 'd never hev asked me ter walk inside like that! He an' me sorter drew on each other 'bout a year ago, down at Lee's shebang; an' he don't 'pear ter fergit 'bout it." "Show me the nearest safe passage to the Fort," I said, interrupting him, almost rudely.
He got up slowly, and cast his eyes with deliberation southward.
"Oh, thar ain't no sich special hurry, I reckon," he answered with an exasperating drawl.

"We 'll be thar long afore daylight,--perviding allers we don't hit no Injuns meantime,--an' the slower we travel the less chance thar is o' thet." "But, friend Burns," I urged, "it is a racing matter.

I must reach there in advance of another man, who has already been here ahead of me." "So I sorter reckoned from what I heerd; but ye need n't rip the shirt off ye on thet account.

The feller can't git in thar till after daylight, nohow.

Them sojers is too blame skeered ter open the gates in the dark, an' all the critter 'll git if he tries it will be a volley o' lead; so ye might just as well take it easylike." The old man's philosophy seemed sound.