He--he's dead." The other grunted, disdainfully.

"Bad luck ter see them sort," he volunteered, solemnly.

"Blame glad it warn't me es see it, an' I don't know as I keer much right now 'bout keepin' company with ye fer very long.

However, I reckon if either of us calculates on doin' much ridin' ternight, we better stop foolin' with ghosts, an' go ter saddlin' up." They made rapid work of it, the newcomer proving somewhat loquacious, yet holding his voice to a judicious whisper, while Murphy relapsed into his customary sullen silence, but continued peering about nervously.

It was he who led the way down the bank, the four horses slowly splashing through the shallow water to the northern shore.
Before them stretched a broad plain, the surface rocky and uneven, the northern stars obscured by ridges of higher land.