I was touched a bit myself." For the moment, Marianne was more keenly interested in the welfare of Arizona Charley.

Perris, with others following, reached him first and strong hands carried the unconscious champion towards that corner of the field where the Corson buckboard stood; for there were the water-buckets.

They were close to the goal when Arizona recovered sufficiently to kick himself loose feebly from his supporters.
"What the hell's all this ?" Marianne heard him say in a voice which he tried to make an angered roar but which was only a shrill quaver from his weakness.

"Maybe I'm a lady?
Maybe I've fainted or something?
Not by a damned sight! Maybe I been licked by that boiled-down bit of hell, Rickety, but I ain't licked so bad I can't walk home.

Hey, Perris, shake on it! You trimmed me, all right, and you collect off'n me and a pile more besides me.