At the last camp, just north of the Platte, Bud's two black sheep balked.

Bud himself, worn by sleepless nights and long hours in the saddle, turned furiously when Jerry announced that he guessed he and Ed wouldn't go any farther.
"Well, damn you both for ungrateful hounds!" grated Bud, hurt to the quick.

"I hope you don't think I brought you this far to help hold me in the saddle; I made it north alone, without any mishap.

I think I could have come back all right.

But if you want to quit here, all right.