CHAPTER XVII.
BUCK AND WINNIE.
Shortly after nightfall, Badger started again for the residence of Fairfax Lee.

He had no definite plans, but rather blindly hoped something might turn up to favor him.

He confessed to himself that he was "all gone to pieces," but he had no desire to go into some liquor den and load up with bad whisky, as he was once accustomed to do when trouble or disappointment struck him.
"It was red-eye that got me into this, I reckon, and I'll let the stuff alone hereafter.

I've promised to, and I will, no matter what comes.
That's whatever!" And when Buck Badger put his foot down he usually put it down hard.
"I'd feel better if I could only meet Don Pike and swell up his eyes for him," he continued to growl.

"But the coward has sloped." It did, indeed, seem that Pike was making an effort to keep out of the way of the Westerner.