I know I was a fool to talk quite as straight as I did last night; but some one else brought up the subject of Sandy; and Swift called him a name Sandy'd have smashed him in the face for, if he'd been alive and heard it.

I always liked the fellow, and it made me hot to see them hustle him out of town and hang him like they'd shoot a dog that had bitten some one, when I _knew_ he didn't deserve it.

You or I would have shot, just as quick as he did, if a drunken Spaniard made for us with a knife.

So would the Captain, or Swift, or any of the others.
"I know--I've got a nasty tongue when something riles me, and I lash out without stopping to think.

Dade has given me the devil for that, more times than I can count.