human
Oh, nothing worrying, he said, turning back to his survey of the valley beyond the decaying stockade.
gpt
The sun'll be over the hilltops in half an hour,
human
Yes, he ejaculated, and went on sweeping. A moment later he paused again.
gpt
Guess I can't be out at the traps till noon. Mebbe you ken do without me--till then?
human
Sure. The Padre nodded at the valley. Then he added:
gpt
I've been thinking.
human
You generally get what I'm thinking,
gpt
Guess you're not much of a riddle--to me,
human
Maybe you know how I'm feeling about things, then? Y' see there's nothing for you now but half the farm money. That's yours anyway. It isn't a pile. Seems to me you ought to be--out there making a big position for yourself.
gpt
Out of gold?
human
Why not? It's an opportunity.
gpt
What for?
human
Why, for going ahead--with other folks.
gpt
I know. Goin' to a city with a big pile. A big house. Elegant clothes. Hired servants. Congress. Goin' around with a splash of big type in the noospapers.
human
That's not quite all, Buck. The man at the door shook his head.
gpt
A man when he rises doesn't need to go in for--well, for vulgar display. There are a heap of other things besides. What about the intellectual side of civilization? What about the advancement of good causes? What about--well, all those things we reckon worth while out here? Then, too, you'll be marrying some day.
human
Marryin' needs--all those things?
gpt
Well, I wouldn't say that, returned the other quickly. He knew something was lying behind Buck's quiet manner, and it made him a little uncomfortable.
human
Most men find a means of marrying when they want to--if they're men. Look here, he went on, with a sudden outburst of simple candor,
gpt
I want to be fair to you, and I want you to be fair to yourself. There's an opportunity over there --he pointed with his pipe in the direction of Devil's Hill--
human
An' if I don't want to--get busy?
gpt
There's nothing more to be said,
human
But ther' is, Padre. There sure is, cried Buck, stepping over to him and laying one hand on the great shoulder nearest him.
gpt
I get all you say. I've got it long ago. You bin worryin' to say all this since ever you got back from sellin' the farm. An' it's like you. But you an' me don't jest figger alike. You got twenty more years of the world than me, so your eyes look around you different. That's natural. You're guessin' that hill is an opportunity for me. Wal, I'm guessin' it ain't. Mebbe it is for others, but not for me. I got my opportunity twenty years ago, an' you give me that opportunity. I was starvin' to death then, an' you helped me out. You're my opportunity, an' it makes me glad to think of it. Wher' you go I go, an' when we both done, why, I guess it won't be hard to see that what I done an' what you done was meant for us both to do. We're huntin' pelts for a livin' now, an' when the time comes for us to quit it, why, we'll both quit it together, an' so it'll go on. It don't matter wher' it takes us. Say, he went on, turning away abruptly.
human
Guess I'll jest haul the drinkin' water before I get.
gpt
And what about when you think of marrying?
human
Guess the sun's gettin' up,
gpt
Where you off to this morning?
human
That gal ain't got a hired man, yet, Buck explained simply, as he picked up his saddle. Then he added ingenuously,
gpt
Y' see I don't guess she ken do the chores, an' the old woman ain't got time to--for talkin'.