If this thing is to be a clean-up I'm goin' to be right close when the cleanin' is bein' done! "I'm stayin' right here, as long as you stay! An' when you get goin', little Shorty will be taggin' along, achin' to salivate some more of the scum that's been makin' things howl in these parts.

Get goin' where you're goin', Lawler!" Shorty had not told Lawler all he knew of the wound in Lawler's shoulder.

He knew that Lawler had lost much blood, and that he was losing more constantly; and that nothing but the man's implacable courage was keeping him up.

And he did not intend to desert him.
Lawler laughed.

But he said nothing as he urged Red King over the Willets trail, riding at a fair pace, not so steady in the saddle as he had been.