human
You follerin' that, too?
gpt
Yes; what you reckon it is?
human
Dunno, growled Charley.
gpt
Thought mebby it was some fool puncher lightin' a cigarette. It wasn't very bright, an' it didn't last long.
human
Reckon you called it, replied Holbrook.
gpt
Well, th' only animal that lights them is humans; an' no human workin' for this ranch is lightin' cigarettes at night, _these_ nights. Bein' a strange human where strange humans shouldn't ought to be, I'm plumb curious. All of which means I'm goin' to have a closer look.
human
I'm with you, said Charley.
gpt
We better stick together or we'll mebby get to shootin' each other; an' I'm frank in sayin' I'm shootin' quick tonight, an' by ear. There ain't no honest human ridin' around out here, day _or_ night, that don't belong here; an' them that does belong ain't over there, lightin' cigarettes nor nothin' else. That lightnin' bug don't belong, but he may _stay_ here. Look! There she is again--_this_ side of where I saw it last!
human
Same place,
gpt
Same place yore hat!
human
Bet you five it is.
gpt
Yo're on; make it ten?
human
It is. Shut yore face an' keep goin'. Somethin's happenin' over there.
gpt
It's south! exulted Charley.
human
You lose.
gpt
He crossed in front of us, cuss him,
human
They're signalin', an' there's mebby more'n two. What's th' difference? Come on, Pete! We'll bust up this little party before it starts. But what are they lightin' lights for if they're rustlin'? An' if they ain't rustlin' what'n blazes _are_ they doin'?
gpt
Head over a little, said his companion, forcing his horse against his friend's.
human
We'll ride between th' flashes first, an' if there's a herd bein' collected we'll mebby hit it. Don't ask no questions; just shoot an' jump yore cayuse sideways.