Peyton picked you up while you was takin' care of her, and two days arter you kem up to the broken-down Silsbee wagons, with all the folks lyin' there slartered." "Yes, sir," said Clarence, breathlessly with astonishment.
"And," continued the man, putting his hand gravely to his head as if to assist his memory, "when you was all alone on the plains with that little child you saw one of those redskins, as near to you as I be, watchin' the train, and you didn't breathe or move while he was there ?" "Yes, sir," said Clarence eagerly.
"And you was shot at by Peyton, he thinkin' you was an Injun in the mesquite grass?
And you once shot a buffalo that had been pitched with you down a gully--all by yourself ?" "Yes," said Clarence, crimson with wonder and pleasure.

"You know me, then ?" "Well, ye-e-es," said the man gravely, parting his mustache with his fingers.

"You see, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE." "Before! Me ?" repeated the astounded Clarence.
"Yes, before.

Last night.

You was taller then, and hadn't cut your hair.
You cursed a good deal more than you do now.