Fully expecting to find him dead, the sheriff and his men were slow to adjust themselves to the fact that he was very much alive and very drunk and apparently not greatly interested in his rescue.
Casey halted in his unsteady progress toward the dugout.

The sheriff was already questioning his two prisoners about other members of the gang; but he looked up when Casey lifted up his voice and spoke his mind of the moment.
"Brung a cor'ner, did yuh, lookin' for some one to set on! Barney Oakes is the man that'll need a cor'ner in a minute.

You're all goin' to need 'im.

Casey Ryan never stood around yit whilst his friends was hobbled up by a shurf--turn 'em loose an' turn 'em loose quick! An' git back away from Barney Oakes so he won't drop on yuh in chunks--I'll fix 'im for yuh to set on!" His hand had gone up to his cigarette, but only Joe knew what was likely to follow.

Joe gave a yell of warning, ducked and ran straight away from the group.