intending to do next?"

"Me? Well, I ain't got no plans. Beat it back to Antelope, I guess.
Say, mister, do you think my pal was your brother?"

"I don't know. From your description I should say so. See here. I
don't know you, but I need a cook. The Concho is thirty miles in. I'm
headed the other way, but if you are game to walk it, I'll see if I can
use you."

"Me! You ain't givin' me another josh, be you?"

"Never a josh. You won't think so when you get to punchin' dough for
fifteen hungry cowboys. Want to try it?"

"Say, mister, I'm just comin' to. A guy told me in Antelope that they
was a John Corliss--only he said Jack--what was needin' a cook. Just
thunk of it, seein' as I was thinkin' of Billy most ever since I met
you. Are you the one?"

"Guess I am," said Corliss, smiling. "It's up to you."

"Say, mister, that listens like home more'n anything I heard since I
was a kid. I can sure cook, but I ain't no rider."

"How long would it take you to foot it to the Concho?"

"Oh, travelin' easy, say 'bout eight hours."

"Don't see that you need a horse, then, even if there was one handy."