"Help me up, Eddy, and then get up before me." "BEHIND, you mean," said the boy, with a laugh, as he helped his father into the saddle.
"No," said Steptoe harshly.

"BEFORE me,--do you hear?
And if anything happens BEHIND you, don't look! If I drop off, don't stop! Don't get down, but go on and leave me.

Do you understand ?" he repeated almost savagely.
"Yes," said the boy tremulously.
"All right," said the father, with a softer voice, as he passed his one arm round the boy's body and lifted the reins.

"Hold tight when we come to the cross-roads, for we'll take the first turn, for old luck's sake, to the Mission." They were the last words exchanged between them, for as they wheeled rapidly to the left at the cross-roads, Jack Hamlin and Demorest swung as quickly out of another road to the right immediately behind them.
Jack's challenge to "Halt!" was only answered by Steptoe's horse springing forward under the sharp lash of the riata.
"Hold up!" said Jack suddenly, laying his hand upon the rifle which Demorest had lifted to his shoulder.

"He's carrying some one,--a wounded comrade, I reckon.