"If Gurley has a mind to go, he can. I'll stick," answered Dinsmore gruffly.
But Gurley did not want to go alone. There were possible dangers to be faced that two men could meet a good deal more safely than one. It might be that they would have to stand off a posse. They might meet Indians. The sallow outlaw felt that he could not afford just now to break with his companion. It was not likely that the Rangers would reach them that night, and he guessed craftily that Overstreet would not live till morning. The wound was a very serious one. The man had traveled miles before Dinsmore could stop to give him such slight first aid as was possible, and the jolting of the long horseback ride had made it difficult to stop the bleeding which broke out again and again.
After Dinsmore had eased the wounded man from his horse at dusk and laid him on a blanket with a saddle for a pillow, Overstreet smiled faintly up at him.
"It won't be for long, Homer. You'll be shet of me right soon now," he murmured.
"Don't you talk that-a-way, Dave. I don't want to be shet of you. After a good night's rest you'll feel a new man."
"No, I've got more than I can pack. It won't be long now. I'm right comfortable here. Steve's in a hurry. You go on an' hit the trail with him."
"Where did you get the notion I was yellow, old-timer? I've hunted in couples with you for years. Do you reckon I'm goin' to run like a cur now you've struck a streak o' bad luck?" asked Dinsmore huskily.
The dying man smiled his thanks. "You always was a stubborn son-of-a-gun, Homer. But Steve, he wants--"
"Steve can go to--Hell Creek, if he's so set on travelin' in a hurry. Here, drink some of this water."
The blanket of darkness fell over the land. Stars came out, at first one or two, then by thousands, till the night was full of them. The wounded man dozed and stirred and dozed again. It was plain that the sands of his life were running low. Dinsmore, watching beside him, knew that it was the ebb tide.
A little after midnight Overstreet roused himself, recognized the watcher, and nodded good-bye.
"So long, Homer. I'm hittin' the home trail now."
His hand groped feebly till it found that of his friend. A few minutes later he died, still holding the strong warm hand of the man who was nursing him.
Dinsmore crossed the hands of the dead outlaw and covered him with a blanket.