I'll wager that you haven't had any good warm victuals for a week, and
it will taste mighty well."
Ned ate it and asked for more. He would have done his own cooking, but
they would not let him. They seemed to take a pleasure in helping him,
and, used as they were to hardships and danger, they admired all the
more the tenacity and courage that had brought a boy so far.
"We can promise you one thing, Ned," said "Deaf" Smith. "We'll see that
you and Obed have a full night's good sleep and I guess you'll like
that about as much as a big supper."
"We certainly will," said Obed. "Sleep has got a lot of knitting to do
in my case."
"The same is true of me," said Ned, who had now eaten about all he
wanted, "but before I roll up in the blankets I want to say something to
you men."
His voice had suddenly become one of great gravity, and, despite his
youth, it impressed them. The darkness had now come, but the fire made a
center of light. They had put themselves in easy attitudes about it,
while the horses grazed just beyond them.
"I come from Texas myself," said Ned, "although I was born in Missouri.
My parents are dead, and I thought I could make my way in Texas. I met
Mr. Austin who is related to me, and he was good to me more than once.
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