"The two of yuh may possibly be able to stand each other without gittin' sick; but me, I never did git used to skunks!" That remark very nearly got him a through ticket to Land Beyond.

But, being very nearly what Casey had called them, they contented themselves with mouthing vile epithets.
"Better take 'im down to the mine an' keep 'im till Mart gets back, Paw," the long-jawed youth suggested, when he ran short of objurgations.

"Mart'll fix 'im when he comes." "I'd fix 'im, here an', now," threatened Paw, "but Mart, he's so damned techy lately--what we oughta do is bust 'is head with a rock an' pitch 'im over the rim.

That'd fix 'im." They wrangled over the suggestion, and finally decided to take him down and turn him over to one whom they called Joe.

Casey went along peaceably, hopeful that he would later have a chance to fight back.