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138 After some debate his motion carried, though they reserved a revolver apiece and a fair supply of cartridges. Already they could tell that every ounce of extra weight was going to count before they won through.

"You won't be so hungry after the first meal or two you miss," said Harvey. "We got enough backy to last through an' thet means a lot."

"Sure," said Larkin, satirically. "Nothin' hin the world for workin' hup the happetite like starving. Fine cure for hindigestion. Look at what's ahead of us. If goats made this bloody trail they was crossed with heagles, that's hall I got to say."

They had come to one of many similar places where the path was faced with the naked rock for several feet of smooth wall. To one man alone the way would be impractical yet there was the indisputable evidence that here was a pass to the mesa, or from it, long used by animals; goats surely, coyotes probably, and mountain lions. Larkin mounted on Stone's shoulders and scrambled to a higher footing, then Healy was boosted up by Harvey over Stone's living ladder while the Cockney, reaching down, hauled the wounded man up by main force, assisted by Stone and Harvey from below, thrusting him with grips about his ankles. Save for keeping his legs stiff, Healy made no attempt to help himself. He acted as if he was a pack of priceless merchandise that must be treated tenderly, nor did he spare suggestions as to his comfort, cursing Larkin in particular until the latter turned on him.