If Injuns take in after me, the gun's so I can shoot.

And a feller don't shoot up in the air--and if an Injun is hunting trouble he oughta expect that maybe he might get shot sometime.

You--you wouldn't want me to just run and let them catch me, would you ?" Mother's hand slipped up to his head and pressed it against her breast so that Buddy heard her heart beating steady and sweet and true.

Mother wasn't afraid--never, never! "I know--it's the dreadful necessity of defending our lives.

But you're so young--just mother's baby man!" Buddy looked up at her then, a laugh twinkling in his eyes.