They partook of breakfast in the gray dawn of the new day,eating by lantern-light.And when the light had been extinguished,Willock,like a wild animal brought to bay,squared his shoulders against the wall,and said:We've slept on it.Say all you got to say.Don't leave out nothing because you might be sorry,afterwards.Speak together,or one at a time,it's all the same to me.And when you're done,and say you're done,I'll do my talking,according.
And when they were done,and said they were done,he straightened himself and said:
When Red Kimball's band give themselves to the law that done nothing to them,there might of been a man,one of 'em,that never come in out of the rain.I ain't saying I am that man,for I stands by the records and the proofs and the showings of man and man,technical and arbitrary.But in due time,the governor of Texas he says that that man--whoever he may be--was no longer to be excused on the grounds that he done his operating in No-Man's Land and his residing in the state of Texas.And he said that there man would be held responsible for all the deeds done by Red Kimball's band.That word has been handed down.Now whether I'm that man,or just thought to be that man,makes little difference.I'm a fugitive on the face of the earth without an ark of safety--referring to my cove.That's ME.
Now look at LAHOMA.She has folks,not meaning you,Wilfred,but Boston kin that stands high.A woman ain't nothing without family,out in the world.You're going to be a great man some day,if I don't miss my guess,a great man in Oklahoma government and laws.Lahoma's going to be proud of you.You'll take a hand in politics,you'll be elected to something high.If I lived near at hand,I'd all-time be hiding,and having her a-conniving at something that would hurt your reputation if found out,and that would kill me because I couldn't breathe under such a load.And if away from her,well--I'm too old,now,to live without Lahoma.She's--she's just a habit of mine.
So you puts me in jail.They does what they likes with me,hangs me or gives me time,but the point as I see it is this:I'll be disposed of,I'll be given a rank,you may say,and classified.Lahoma won't be hampered.She's young;young people takes things hard but they don't take 'em long.In due time,them Boston kinfolks will be inviting her and will be visiting her,and you'll be in congress,like enough--if you wasn't a western man,I'd say you might be president.And everybody will honor you and feast you--and as to Brick Willock,he'll simply be forgot.
Which is eminent and proper,Wilfred.I belongs to the past--I'M a kind of wild creature such as has to die out when civilization rolls high;and she's rolling high in these parts,and it's for me and Bill to join the Indians and buffaloes,and fade away.Trappers is out of date;so is highwaymen,I judge.
I don't know as I makes myself clear or well put,but if you'll catch up the ponies I guess your sheriff can handle my meaning.
Without much difficulty,Wilfred effected another compromise.They waited till night before leaving the retreat.The reason accepted for this delay was that in the daytime the deputies would stop them and Willock wanted to give himself up to the chief in command.When it was dark they slipped down the gully whose matted trees,though stripped of leaves,offered additional shelter.In the cove,they saw the light streaming from the window of the dugout--that famous window that had given Lahoma her first outlook upon learning.As the beams caught his eye,a sigh heaved the great bulk of the former master of the cove,but he said nothing.
In oppressive silence they skirted Turtle Hill and emerged from the horseshoe bend,finding in a sheltered nook the three ponies that Wilfred had provided at nightfall.He had hoped to the last that Willock could be prevailed on to alter his decision,and even while riding away toward Mangum,he argued and coaxed.But it was in vain,and as they clattered up to the hotel veranda,Willock was searching the crowd for a glimpse of the sheriff.
The street was unusually full for that time of night;some topic of engrossing interest seemed to engage all minds until Willock's figure was recognized;then,indeed,he held the center of attention.Men gathered eagerly,curiously,but without the hostility they would have displayed had not a message regarding Red Feather reached the town.Brick was still an outlaw,to be sure,but whatever crimes he had committed were unknown,hence unable to react on the imagination.The surviving friend of Red Kimball,giving up his efforts against Willock on the liberation of Bill,had left the country,harmless without his leader.
