"Easy." "Easy, girl." "Easy." "Hold it, girl." "Hold it." "Well, I want each of you fellas..." "... tobuyyourselfadollarIngersollwatch." "You can't break them with a hammer and..." "... won'tlosemorethanaminuteamonth ." "I know we're late, Mr. Andersen." "You're two hours late!" "Work starts around here at 6 a.m." "Goes for everybody." "Yes, sir." "We spent the night in Bozeman." "Town's empty as a bone orchard." "Everybody's lit out for the Ruby River." "What for?" "Gold." "At the Ruby?" "Played out years ago." "No." "This is a new strike." "About 20 miles above there." "Almost to the Beaverhead." "Tell him, Smiley." "The fact is, Mr. Andersen, me and the boys thought..." "... we'dliketo takearide up and have ourselves a little look-see." "Got 1 , 500 head of steer to get to Belle Fourche before it snows on me." "You hired on to move them." "We'd like to help you out" "Like to help me out?" "The others done pulled out." "There's only five of us left." "That busts it." "You work us like dogs night and day, and Christmas, too!" "Pay you every Saturday!" "There's easier money around." "We'll do it this way." "We'll take a ride up there, we'll have a look around, 2 or 3 weeks." "If it don't work out, we'll get the others and we'll be right back." "Now you have my word." "Don't he, boys?" "That's right." "Your word?" "Yes, sir." "Well, here's my word." "Get the hell off my spread !" "Now!" "Miserable." "Well, they run..." "... cleanoutfromunderme." "Whole damn bunch of them." "I heard most of it." "Let me see that." "A fool comes to town with a fist full of gold dust and..." "... everyjackassin 50 milesaround lights out after him." "My day a man'd stay with you on a handshake." "It's a different day, Wil." "Yeah." "Well, I guess I'll go over to the Bigelow place, see what I can turn up." "Maybe Henry... ." "Henry Bigelow's 60 years old, Wil." "So am I ." "Kind of noisy around here." "It's been like this all week." "Any luck?" "No." "I traveled 30 miles today..." "... didn'tfindasinglehand that could..." "... throwinwithme." "Did you talk to Parker?" "Yeah." "His wife's gonna have a baby." "How about Miller?" "His wife wants to have a baby." "Sucker's only been married three weeks." "Well, if you can't get your cattle to market this year, put it off till next." "What'll I do with this year's bills?" "Pay them next year." "Hell, a lot of folks around here do." "No, I won't go on tick." "If your neck was any stiffer..." "... youcouldn'tevenbendover  to pull your boots on !" "Shut up and pour!" "Did you ever think of hiring boys?" "What boys?" "The schoolboys." "Oh, sure, and women." "How about my mama in Cedar City?" "She's only 92." "You ain't got a lot of choices." "There ain't a kid in that school over 15." "They're between hay and grass." "I need men." "How old was you when you went on your first cattle drive?" "What difference does that make?" "How old was you, Wil?" "Well, in my day" "How old?" "Thirteen." "But an old man's pants fit me." ""The above convenient arrangement is designed..." "... toadjustladies'longdresses to a walking length." "It is worn around the waist, has two ends--"" "Good afternoon, gentlemen." "Afternoon, Miss Ellen." "Have you gentlemen decided you need some additional schooling?" "Well, I guess we could probably use some, but we just come visiting." "Well, come in." "Please, sit down." "It isn't often we get visitors." "We were reading from the Montgomery Ward catalog." "The grammar's quite correct and it's always most interesting." "Elizabeth, would you continue, please?" ""--the longer of which has a nickel clasp..." "... rubber-lined,whichholdsthebottom of the skirt to any desirable height..." "... theshorteroneahook  for holding a fan." "This elevator has been worn in Chicago during the past season a great deal..." "... andladiesconsiderit almost indispensable."" "Thank you, Elizabeth." "Now, let us hear how well the boys do." "Put away your catalogs and take out your readers." "Charles Honeycutt." "Would you read today's assignment for us?" "Hail to thee, blith" "Blith?" "Blithe." "blithe spirit." "Bird thou never wert" "Weren't?" "Bird thou never wert" "That from heaven or near it Pourest thy" "Get away!" "What have you got there?" "Nothing." "Homer, take your hand from behind your back!" "And open it!" "Stop it!" "Now stop it!" "Sit down !" "Give it up, Wil." "Can't move heaven and earth." "Well... ." "What you thinking about?" "You." "Stringy women like you live a long time." "Sisters have seen all their husbands put under." "More than likely you will, too." "And I don't wanna..." "... seeyouendupsomebody'sfrycook." "I've been your fry cook for 40 years." "A pretty good one, too." "It's getting chilly." "Come on in, have a cup of coffee." "I'll be in." "Damn Anse!" "He put them up to this." "I'd better jump straight down their throat and get it over with." "Don't be hard on them." "They must've traveled half the night to get here this early." "Good morning, boys." "Good morning, Mr. Andersen." "Looks like it's gonna be another fine day." "What can I do for you?" "Anse Petersen says you're looking for hands for your drive." "We come to put in for the job." "Well, any of you ever been on a cattle drive?" "Any of you ever herded cattle?" "Well, what can you do?" "We can all ride." "Most of us can rope." "Couple of us are pretty good shots." "Well, that's something." "You know, trail driving is no Sunday school picnic." "You gotta figure you're dealing with the dumbest..." "... orneriestcritteron God'sgreenearth." "A cow's nothing but a lot of trouble tied up in a leather bag." "A horse ain't much better." "Speaking of a horse... ." "Got me a little green, broke filly over there." "Name's Crazy Alice." "Now if one of you was to stay aboard her, for, say, a count of ten..." "... I mightjustkeepthat inmind come hiring time." "Thank you." "Steady, girl, steady." "Easy." "All right." "Easy." "Here we are." "Who's first?" "Well, I'll try and saddle her while you're making up your mind." "Good girl." "Made up your mind?" "I'll go first." "I'll start counting when you hit the saddle." "Five." "Six." "Seven." "Eight." "Time!" "Get off of her!" "My name's Honeycutt." "I'm 15." "And everybody calls me Slim." "Easy, girl." "I'm next." "Easy, girl." "Easy." "She's rank." "Keep your mind in the middle." "Bail off, youngster!" "Bail off!" "My name's Homer Weems, Mr. Andersen." "And I hope I ain't rode all the rough off of her." "You all right, boy?" "Yes, sir." "My name's Clyde Potter." "They call me Fats." "Tending toward the gut myself." "My name's B" "His name's Bob Wilson." "He gets excited." "I'm Charlie Schwartz." "I'm Jewish." "I've settled it every place in town but here." "Must keep you pretty busy." "All right, who's next?" "I am." "Good morning." "Close the gate." "Did you see that?" "Here, boy." "I think you can handle her now." "Keep it." "All right, break it up." "Break it up!" "Come on, Slim, get back up on the fence." "Hurry it up." "Settle down !" "You all right?" "Yes, sir." "I didn't see you at the school." "I don't go to school." "Got a name?" "Cimarron." "That's half a name." "What's the rest of it?" "There's no more name." "I'm a mistake of nature." "That was a pretty good ride you made." "But I'll have to think you over." "You having difficulty seeing the board?" "Homer, Bob, why don't you take these slates and pads..." "... putthemunderneaththeboard  and raise it up..." "... sothateveryonecan see the lowerlines." "Yes, ma'am." "There, that's much better." "Thank you, boys." "When you've copied your assignments for the week you may all go home." "I'd like to talk to these boys before class breaks up, if you don't mind." "Do you wish to address the young ladies, as well?" "No, I don't think so." "I've nothing to say to young ladies." "Then we bow to the fact that it's a man's world and leave you to it." "Girls." "I don't expect to get to..." "... BelleFourchewithone single head of beef..." "... butI'mcornered..." "... soI 'mtakingyouon." "Now this is the way it's gonna be." "I'm a man and you're boys." "Not cowmen, not by a damn sight." "Nothing but cowboys, just like the word says." "And I'm gonna remind you of it every single minute of every day and night." "This is the Double-O." "This is Belle Fourche." "In between is 400 miles of the meanest country in the West." "And the only way we're gonna get through is if..." "... youtakeorders." "Is that clear?" "Yes, sir." "Bring a bedroll..." "... acoupleof goodropes..." "... horse,if yougot one ." "You'll get the best food in the territory..." "... norest,and damnlittlesleep ." "And 50 big silver dollars..." "... ifwe makeittoBelle Fourche." "Now you'll show up at my place..." "... firstMondayafterschool'sout,  at 5 a. m." "And come with grit teeth." "Because, gentlemen, that's when school really begins." "Mr. Andersen?" "Yeah?" "All of us?" "Come here." "Anybody that tall." "They must've rode all over the territory to get that many brand new hats." "You know..." "... you'regonnahavetofeed thesekids till my cook comes." "I don't mind." "I like the sound of boys." "Next one of you pulls a knife in this outfit..." "... you'regonnalearnbetter at the buckle end of my belt." "Now, what happened?" "You." "What went on here?" "He said something about his mother." "What'd he say?" "You understand Spanish, Mr. Andersen?" "I understand." "So does Slim." "Clear out." "Get on your horse and clear out." "All right." "There's plenty of road." "Give me back my gun." "I'm not in the habit of throwing kerosene on a fire." "It cost me $30." "Send me a bill." "You're gonna get it, mister." "All right, everybody packing iron unload it." "Throw it over here in this buggy." "And I mean anything that shoots." "Anybody holds out so much as a pea shooter..." "... mayfindhimselfhanging by a tie-rope 70 foot up in a tree." "You ever fire that thing?" "No, sir." "This hardware'll be locked up in the chuck wagon." "You got anything to settle between you, butt heads." "Now get rid of those bedrolls and..." "... getmountedandwe'llsee how much you don't know." "All right, turn him loose." "Bring in the iron, Charlie." "Been smelling that for 40 years." "Never could get used to it." "You." "Yes, sir." "What's your name?" "Hardy Fimps." "Go rope one." "You'll do." "I've seen them fight all day, from dawn to dark." "Sometimes the young one wins, sometimes the old." "Young one's got more muscle." "Old one's got more experience." "That's the old one still standing there." "Keep his nose out of the water." "Watch out!" "Hang on to that line!" "Steady, steady." "Pull !" "Slow, Weedy!" "Watch out for those horns." "You got him." "Now hold him right there." "Pull his nose back now." "Keep his head back." "All right, take him out!" "Pull !" "Get him out of there!" "You need some help?" "Nah, they're doing all right." "Mr. Wil Andersen?" "What can I do for you?" "Well, I think there's something that we can do for each other." "My name's Asa Watts." "How are you?" "This here's Henry Williams and Red Tucker." "They both ride with me." "We heard in town that you was going on a drive, needing some hands." "You sure heard right." "Well, sir, we're the very best." "You fellas aren't from around here." "No, sir, we're not." "We're from Denton County." "We've been on the Ruby River the last few weeks panning for gold..." "... likeeveryotherdamn fool ." "These last 22 days you know all we got was $2 worth of dust and nothing more." "Ain't that pitiful?" "Now we're ready to get back to what we know, and that's cows." "What outfits have you worked with?" "Well, sir, we've worked for every big outfit in north Montana." "You name them." "No." "You name them." "Alrighty." "There's Oscar West at the Triple-D..." "... andGeorgeC. Thompsonoverthere at McNeil..." "... DillardFantattheSanta Rosa." "How long were you with Fant?" "Well, sir, the last eight years." "What a lovely old gentleman he is." "If we weren't three of the damnedest fools you ever saw we'd be there with him now." "And if you were, you'd be in a pine box." "Sir?" "I was pallbearer at his funeral five years ago." "Well, I've been caught at it, haven't I?" "Mr. Andersen, I'm sorry." "I lied to you." "I got all them names right out of the Stockmen's Association brand book." "You see, we're fresh out of jail, the three of us, and..." "... I don'tknow,you tellthat topeople and they just turn a deaf ear on you." "Well, I'm afraid I can't use you." "How do you mean you can't use us?" "I won't use you." "You" " You mean you're gonna be like everybody else..." "... andnotgiveusa chance?" "I don't hold jail against you, but I hate a liar." "You're a hard man, Mr. Andersen." "It's a hard life." "I got work to do." "Sir, before you get back to your work, I'd like to ask you one more little question." "What are you gonna use for hands on this drive of yours, huh?" "Them little-bitty boys down there?" "Come on, you know better than that." "You know what you'll need to trundle them boys across the prairie?" "A baby carriage." "Well, whatever I need I'll get." "I bet you will." "Good luck to you, Mr. Andersen." "Get mounted !" "There's your saddle band." "They've been living wild all winter." "We'll finish breaking them on the drive." "We'll pick our strings by age." "Who's the oldest?" "I am." "Get yourself a rope." "All right." "And here." "May I have some more, please?" "Sure." "You eat that much at home?" "We've been branding cattle all day." "Can't be that hungry." "They're showing off." "Good afternoon, mister." "Were you looking for me?" "Who are you?" "Name's Nightlinger." "Jebediah Nightlinger." "I was expecting a white man." "Jim Wheeler." "What happened to him?" "Well, he got drunk on Sunday and married on Monday." "I came in his stead." "I told him the fix I was in." "He promised he wouldn't let me down." "He doesn't even wash his hands before he puts them in the pot." "I do." "Can you cook?" "Apple pie." "Green apples sliced thin." "Lard, flour, salt, water to bind." "Sugar, cinnamon, a dab of butter." "Three slashes on the crust, one for steam..." "... andtwobecauseyourmama  did it that way." "Good afternoon to you, lady." "Am I correct?" "Why, yes, indeed." "Mrs." "Andersen." "Ma'am." "You ever been on a trail drive?" "The Oregon, Chisholm..." "... SantaFe ,somewithoutnames." "I don't know." "I like to travel with a man I'm used to." "You'll get used to me." "What do you want for wages?" "All I can get." "This job pays $100." "A hundred?" "That's the money." "Well, if you should get flooded out, stampeded out, frozen out..." "... orscalpedby wildRed Indians..." "... there'llalwaysbe substantialfood on the plate and coffee on the boil." "But..." "... that'llcostyou$125." "You're a pretty independent character, aren't you?" "It's been said of me." "Put your wagon in the barn." "Are all these small boys... ?" "No!" "They're my trail hands, God help us." "Doesn't anything larger wanna work for you?" "We had a case of gold fever around here." "They're all that's left." "I'll fix up some sugar tits to take along." "Hey, Dan." "What's "sugar tits"?" "This one suits me." "It smells of boy in here." "You're staring at me, children !" "I feel your eyes on my back." "Now why is that?" "Well, sir..." "... you'rethefirstniggerweeversaw." "Then it must be a treat for you." "Something different for a change." "Are you black all over?" "Except for the white of my eyes." "Is your, you know, your--?" "It is." "Black too." "See?" "He's the same as us, except for that color." "The same as you?" "Oh, children." "My father was a brawny Moor." "Six feet six inches tall." "He bound his head in a red velvet cloth." "He wore a curved sword..." "... forgedfromthefinestToledosteel ." "He captured a lady..." "... brightanddark." "He took her in his arms..." "... andwrappedherina warm quilt..." "... andcarriedheroff ." "They came to a castle..." "... andhebattereddownthedoors  with the trunk of an oak tree..." "... andkilledeverybodyinit!" "Just so they could rest the night." "Later..." "... whilesheslept..." "... hewalkedthe parapets..." "... andbecameaking." "Is that true?" "If it isn't, it ought to be." "Blow out those lamps!" "You, that lamp!" "Do your work." "Don't be profane and don't listen to profanity." "Wash your feet daily." "Say your prayers nightly." "Yes, sir." "You have to go out in the world and prove yourself." "I guess that's right." "God bless you, son." "Don't be fresh." "I won't." "And don't come to any harm." "Don't worry, I won't." "So long, Gramps." "Sixty days ought to see me back." "I want two things." "What?" "You home again and a string of blue glass beads." "You don't ask for much, Ann." "I don't need much." "Well, if you run into any trouble, call Anse." "I'll think about you before I go to bed at night." "You do and you won't sleep." "Are you ready, Mr. Nightlinger?" "Long ready, Mr. Andersen." "Let's go to Belle Fourche." "Move them out!" "Yes, sir!" "Move them out, Weedy!" "Start them, Charlie!" "Move them out, Bob!" "Move them, Jim !" "All right, cover them over here." "Keep them over this way!" "That's good, Slim." "Right pace, Homer." "Any faster you'd be running tallow off of them." "That's money out of my pocket." "We'll try and make Still Meadows tonight." "Still Meadows." "All right, take them through." "Take them through." "Come on !" "Get with it!" "Head them down there!" "Head them downhill !" "Get up there, kid." "Get up where you were!" "Get down, Hardy!" "Hey, there's a stray." "You want me to get him?" "Easy, easy!" "Don't stop, go with them !" "Go with them !" "Go on with the wagon !" "Easy, easy." "Don't stop them." "Go with them !" "Go with them !" "You were sleeping." "I'm sorry, Mr. Andersen." "I pay a full day's wages, expect a full day's work." "Drove you hard today, didn't he, children?" "You think it's gonna be like this every day?" "Yep." "Sundays, too?" "There ain't no Sundays west of Omaha." "Slim, give that to Hardy." "Watch it, it's hot." "I never noticed before..." "... butmostofthepeopleIknow are quiet compared to Mr. Andersen." "He's quiet, it just comes out loud." "That youngster's been following all day." "I know it." "Who is he?" "A bur under my hide." "You just gonna leave him out there?" "Mr. Nightlinger, you take care of the kitchen, I'll take care of the drive." "You know, in the late war between the states..." "... I servedunderanofficer..." "... justlikeyou." "Is that right?" "As a matter of fact, I shot that military gentleman in the buttocks..." "... justoutsideVicksburg." "I'd have hung you." "They gave me a medal." "In my regiment, Mr. Nightlinger..." "... I wasknownasOldIronPants." "You might keep that in mind." "Rise and shine!" "Rise and shine!" "Hey, Hardy, you wake up!" "Homer!" "Get up and go wake up good Slim over there!" "Up, up, up!" "Out of these sacks, into your britches!" "Come on, Jim, get up!" "Get up!" "My God, get up!" "Don't let the sun catch you sleeping." "Mr. Nightlinger, what's for breakfast?" "Stewed apples, bacon and biscuits." "Well, forget the apples." "Slap some bacon on a biscuit and let's go!" "We're burning daylight!" "Burning daylight?" "All I see are stars." "You'll see a lot more of them if you don't get a move on." "Bring them on !" "Bring them on, Mr. Nightlinger!" "Come on." "Stay with them." "Keep them upriver." "Stay upriver, Mr. Nightlinger, there's some soft sand down there." "Keep them upriver." "Let them go higher, up their head." "Well, come on." "Keep them upstream so they won't have to swim." "Easy, now." "Push them upstream, that's it." "Good work." "Head them upstream more." "Hold it on up there in the canyon till they all get across." "Settle down." "Help!" "Help!" "Come on." "Here's one of your strays." "You all right?" "Better sit on his back and pump him out." "Get his feet up." "Move your gear into camp." "I won't charge you for the days I've been following you." "You're hired on, just like the rest." "You work out, you stay." "If you don't, it's a long walk back." "You !" "You almost got him killed, you know that?" "But I tried to tell you." "The hell you did !" "I tried hard." "If you'd have been in that water we'd have heard you loud and clear." "I couldn't get the words out." "You could've if you'd wanted to." "You just didn't want to bad enough." "Before God, I tried." "Trying don't get it done!" "The fact is, you almost let your friend choke to death out in that river." "I'd rather die than done that." "Then you're a liar!" "It ain't my fault I stutter." "Listen to me, you whining little whelp..." "... you'regonnastopstuttering or get the hell out of here." "You're gonna stop it or go home, do you hear me?" "You son of a bitch." "What did you say?" "You goddamn son of a bitch !" "Say that again." "You goddamn, mean son of a bitch !" "Say it faster!" "You goddamn, mean, dirty son of a bitch !" "I wouldn't make it a habit calling me that, son." "I did it." "Did you hear me?" "I did it." "Hey, Cimarron." "I ain't had a chance to thank you for hauling me out." "I sure am obliged." "Well, I figure I owe you for it." "Yeah?" "How much in dollars?" "Well, I can't pay you in dollars." "I ain't got any dollars." "Well, money's what cuts it with me." "Hey, wait a minute." "I picked this up on the trail." "I know it ain't gold, it's just fool's gold, but it's kind of pretty." "You calling me a fool?" "No, no, I didn't mean it like that." "I got no use for it." "You write that yourself?" "No, no." "It's printed on paper." "I've been trying to learn it." "Well, there's nothing to it." "It's just like arithmetic." "All you gotta do is just..." "... countthelinesand the spaces." "That  tells you where the notes go." "It ain't hard." "Looks like fly specks to me." "Some guy named Vivaldi wrote it." "It's kind of pretty." "If that's that old Tennessee sour mash, put a little in there." "Good for my rheumatism." "That comes with old age." "Yeah, miserable old age." "I hate it." "I'm not far behind you and I don't like it, either." "My oldest boy..." "... wouldbecloseto40now." "Middle-aged." "If he had lived." "You lost a son?" "Two of them." "Went bad on me." "Or I went bad on them." "I don't know." "I can't figure it out." "You got another chance." "They're not mine." "They could be." "So as I went down to Denver with my cousin, L. D. Grimes..." "... thentherewasthis hootchy-kootch show going on." "And when the fella wasn't looking we snuck in under the tent." "There was this gal up on the stage doing a harem dance." "First thing I know, she dropped her dress and she was naked." "All over?" "From head to toe." "What'd she look like?" "She had a belly button so big, you could've stuck your middle finger in it." "I saw my first one in Benbow, too." "Fifty years ago." "Probably the same girl." "Damned if he ain't almost human today." "He's been sleeping better." "He's been at the bottle." "There's bug juice in this camp?" "Hell, yes." "I seen him and Mr. Nightlinger swilling it down last night." "Keeps it in a drawer in the chuck wagon." "Which drawer?" "Come on." "Hurry up." "Give me that." "Come on, let's go." "Hurry up." "Hurry up." "Come on, Weedy." "Weedy, come on." "Hurry up." "Everybody else is." "You're wasting time." "Gambling's a sin." "So what?" "This ain't gambling, it's stealing." "That's a bigger sin." "Not if you don't get caught." "Come on, just take one." "Come on, Weedy, come on." "Holy shit!" "Go on, Weedy, go on." "Hurry up." "Watch out!" "Here he comes." "Innocence is wasted on me." "I don't believe in it." "What are you up to?" "Nothing, Mr. Nightlinger." "Nothing at all." "Boys are always guilty of something nasty." "What could it be this time, I wonder?" "Nothing, I swear." "Just standing here talking." "If you're lying, remember one thing:" "I could swallow each of you whole without choking." "All I need to do is butter your heads and pin your ears back." "Hey, come on." "Hurry up." "Get going." "Go, go." "Keep going." "Look in with the liniment." "That's where my folks keep it." "Hurry up." "Come on." "Come on, Weedy, don't take your sweet time." "Come on." "Come on." "Hurry up." "Hurry up, Weedy." "Come on." "It's not here." "Look around here." "Look over here." "Hurry up." "Would you get going?" "We'll watch." "Go on." "I got it." "Don't drop it." "Hot coffee." "Heard you coming." "I'm used." "That Fats!" "He can sure sing those cows to sleep." "Fatboy isn't on guard." "He was just here." "That's right." "It's..." "... SteveandCimarron." "There's more than one voice." "What is this?" "Weedy!" "You keep taking long swigs like that..." "... you'regonnamissyourturn next time ." "Pass it on." "Hey!" "There's two of everybody." "There's two moons." "I'm going to bed as soon as I can stand up." "Just don't wake up Ol' Iron Nuts." "Mr. Brass Ass Andersen." "A bastard if there ever was one." "He made you stop stuttering fast." "He really tromped your tail !" "Listen, Fatso..." "... I could'vegivenupstuttering a long time ago." "Why didn't you?" "I didn't know anybody wanted me to." "This is the first time I've ever been drunk." "Oh, you getting sick, you farmer?" "I've decided." "What?" "I've decided if Ol' Iron Nuts tells me I'm burning daylight just one more time..." "... I 'mgonnalethim haveit." "Have what?" "It." "What's "it"?" "I ain't decided yet." "What happened to that bottle?" "It's coming." "You know who you sounded like just then?" "Mr. Nightlinger." "That black son of a bitch cooks better than my ma." "Come on, you guys, we ought to be going before the old man finds out we're gone." "Yeah, come on." "Did you ever notice how pink Mr. Nightlinger's palms are?" "Yeah." "They're kind of pretty." "Shit." ""Shit" yourself." "Shall we join them, Mr. Nightlinger?" "When did you take your first drink?" "It was on the occasion of my first broken heart." "And my last." "She was an older woman and wise." "Vastly experienced." "She told me she couldn't stand the sight of me for another minute..." "... handedme ahalf-gallonjug of sour mash and fled." "And you polished it off?" "Every drop." "I've been drinking sour mash ever since." "I was 17." "She was almost 22." "Her name..." "... wasOceola." "I think these kids are rushing it a little." "They're in a hurry to grow up." "Well, they won't get it out of a bottle." "They'll know that in the morning." "All down sick at once." "Must've passed a bad waterhole." "Well, this'll settle you." "Come on, son." "Back, wide." "Voilà." "Good morning, gentlemen." "Mr. Nightlinger, I'd like some beans and cabbage for supper..." "... witha bigchunkoffatback in some red pepper sauce." "And make some gravy out of the grease." "I'll be back." "Hurry it up." "We're burning daylight." "All right, son, tongue out." "Head back." "Wider." "Where do you think you're going?" "Go get him, Dan." "Come back, you." "You ain't nothing but a small child." "If you was a fish, boy, I'd throw you back." "Hey, boys!" "Lookie here!" "Look what I found." "Look around and meet the boys." "It looks like he surprised us." "We surprised you, too, though, didn't we, boy?" "You know better than to scream out now, don't you?" "What's the matter with you, son?" "You're looking at me like I had two heads." "You're wondering where I came from, ain't you?" "You know we've been tracking you for days?" "What have you got to say to that?" "I can't hear you, son." "I can't hear you, son !" "I won't say nothing." "You're a quiet boy." "If I had a prize I'd give it to you, boy." "I like quiet boys." "Now, quiet boy..." "... I 'mgonnaletyou loose." "But you point your ears now, son." "Because you ain't running back to Andersen with them eyes rolling back in your head..." "... tellinghimthatthesereal badmen have been following us day and night." "You're not gonna say that." "You think you'll raise a commotion and get congratulated for it." "They're gonna pat you on the head and tell you what a good boy you been." "That's not gonna do you any good, son." "You know why?" "Now you listen to me careful, boy." "You know why?" "Because I'm gonna come to you some night it's real dark." "I'm gonna come to you on tiptoe..." "... soyouain'tnevergonnabeable to hear me." "And I'm gonna come to you with a knife..." "... freshlysharpenedon astone..." "... andI 'mgonnacutyou agrin  down here on your neck." "It's gonna run clear across to there." "Do I make myself clear, boy?" "Is it clear to you now, huh?" "Is it clear to you?" "Is it clear?" "Yes, it's clear." "Go home!" "No." "No, I ain't gonna." "You gotta stand watch." "I ain't gonna." "It's your turn." "I ain't gonna." "Why not?" "I ain't gonna." "What's the matter, Dan?" "Nothing." "Just" " Just leave me alone." "Mr. Andersen, can I speak to you?" "Go ahead." "Well, it's about Dan." "What about him?" "He doesn't want to stand his watch." "Is he sick?" "No, sir." "Well, did he break something?" "No, sir." "To tell you the truth..." "... I thinkhe 'safraidofthedark." "Come here." "What ails you, boy?" "Nothing." "You night-hawked last night." "Yes, sir." "Everything went smooth." "Yes, sir." "If you don't stand your watch, somebody goes short of sleep." "Carry your weight, boy." "Yes, sir." "I don't steal off you and you don't steal off me, not even a pinch of pie." "What's the matter with you?" "Your house is your house and my house is my house." "Mr. Nightlinger, you'd better start being real careful." "How does it feel to be scared?" "You think I was too rough on the boy, is that it?" "Yeah, that's it." "Well, I can't say I always decide right." "In that case..." "... cutyourselfapieceofpie." "Move easy." "They're kind of jumpy." "They look funny from up here, don't they?" "My glasses!" "I'll get them for you." "Be careful, Charlie." "Don't worry, I'll be all right." "Come on, come on." "Easy, boy." "Easy, easy." "Come on, boy, come on." "Come on, easy." "Easy, boy." "Easy, boy." "Come on, easy." "Be real careful, Charlie." "Don't worry." "Get off him easy." "Just stop worrying." "I found them!" "Come on up." "Hurry out of there." "Easy, Charlie, don't spook them." "They're crowding me!" "Charlie!" "Sometimes, it's..." "... hardto understand..." "... thedriftof things." "This was a good boy." "He'd have been a good man." "Didn't get his chance." "Death can come for you anyplace..." "... anytime." "It's never welcome, but..." "... ifyou'vedoneallyoucando..." "... andit'syourbest..." "... inaway ,Iguess,you'rereadyforhim." "Go on back to camp." "All of you." "Go on, son." "What's that?" "Little Big Horn." "They didn't even dig him a decent grave." "Well, it's not how you're buried..." "... it'showtheyrememberyou." "I guess I better go into Fort Smith and..." "... seeifthere'sbeenanySioux activity up ahead." "Keep the cattle headed due east." "Tell Mr. Nightlinger he's in charge." "Why not put me in charge?" "A big mouth don't make a big man." "Cimarron, come here!" "Them ladies ain't got their dresses on." "No, they ain't." "They sure are pretty." "Wonder who they are." "I don't know." "Let's go find out, huh?" "Girls, come on." "Come on." "Hurry up." "Hurry up, get behind the wagon." "Move, move." "Good morning, boys." "Ma'am." "Morning, ma'am." "Fine morning, isn't it?" "You on a drive?" "Yes, ma'am, we're going to Belle Fourche." "Where's your head man?" "That's Mr. Andersen." "He's over at Fort Smith." "All right, then." "What's your name?" "They call me Cimarron." "I'm Kate to my friends." "And who's the one with the pretty pink blush?" "This here's Homer." "Hello, Homer." "Ma'am." "How many men you got in your outfit, Cimarron?" "If you're going by age, we've got two that's 1 5." "My God !" "If you're going by what we can do, there's 1 1 of us." "No offense." "In this kind of country a poor helpless woman likes to know..." "... ifthereare any men around." "I mean, men who can take care of us as we go along our way." "Well, we're getting paid a man's wages." "And you look man enough to earn them too, Cimarron." "Did you want me for anything, Mrs. Collingwood?" "That's Phoebe." "You're putting too much merchandise on display, Phoebe." "You better cover some of that up before you come down with pneumonia." "Isn't this a sweet-looking boy?" "Wouldn't you like to come inside, honey?" "You'd be surprised how nice we got everything fixed up." "I think that Homer just saved himself a dollar." "That leaves you." "Well, excuse me for saying so, ma'am." "You're old enough to be my mama." "Well, if I were, I'd teach you something." "Like what?" "Like manners, for a start." "Morning, ma'am." "Will you see that the boys return to work while I chat with this lady?" "Ma'am." "My name's Nightlinger..." "... andI 'minchargeoftheseboys." "I'm Mrs. Collingwood and..." "... I 'minchargeofthesegirls ." "Well, I just heard from a highly excited youngster..." "... thatthereweresomesoileddoves  swinging through here." "What do you want from me?" "Madam, you know young boys." "They dream of golden skin and unbound hair." "Even if I could lock them up they'd find a way of getting here." "There's very little I can do about that." "I'm sure you'll handle everything most tastefully." "It's a question of waiting for a more appropriate time in their lives." "Perhaps it would be wiser to wait until next year." "Or even the year after." "With any luck I'll be retired by then." "The first time should be in the back of a buggy with..." "... agirltheythinkthey 'reinlovewith." "All right." "We'll move on." "You're a charming and sensible lady." "What about you?" "Well, I have the inclination..." "... thematurityandthe wherewithal..." "... butunfortunately,Idon'thavethetime." "You got them?" "Aye." "Can you fix it?" "I think so." "Catch us by suppertime?" "Do what I can." "Homer, drop out and help him." "Mr." "Andersen." "I know." "They've been paralleling us for the better part of an hour." "What do you suppose they want?" "The herd." "Now you just go on about your business like you hadn't seen them." "I'll pass the word to the rest." "Think you can do something kind of ticklish?" "Sure." "I want you to fade back and..." "... findMr.Nightlinger." "What'll I tell him?" "Tell him to load his gun and hightail it up here." "Yes, sir." "Mr." "Andersen?" "Yeah." "I can't find Weedy." "Well, I sent him back after Mr. Nightlinger a couple of hours ago." "Don't know where the hell they are." "Looks like we're gonna have a cold supper." "You want me to go?" "Son, I wish we could all go, but..." "... wegottastayput righthere ." "Here's some jerky." "Take a piece and pass it on." "As soon as it's dark..." "... they'llbecomingin." "They're after the herd." "I don't know who they are or how rough they'll get." "But right now they think we're one man and a bunch of kids." "And that's what we're gonna let them think." "I know you're more than that, a lot more..." "... butthisisnotimetotryandprove it." "You act like you just came out of Ellen Price's grammar school and..." "... you'llbeallright." "Now scatter and get us some firewood." "What's the matter with you?" "I should have told you." "Told me what?" "They've been following us for a long time." "I should have told you, but I was scared." "They said they'd kill me." "Who said that?" "The man with the long hair who came looking for work." "Don't worry, Dan." "It's not your fault." "You got plenty of guts." "Now get out there and give them a hand getting that firewood." "Hello, there." "Remember what I told you." "Well, bless my soul." "If it ain't Mr. Wil Andersen of the Double-O!" "We knew it was gonna take you a long time herding little boys and cows..." "... butain'tnowaywethought it was gonna take you this long." "Winter's coming on, old friend..." "... andwegottaget thesecattle to Belle Fourche." "How far would you say it is?" "I didn't say." "If you was to say." "Four or five days." "Two or three is more like it." "You know, I'm hungry." "And I remember you had a chuck wagon and a nigger." "Where are they?" "They're behind us." "I sent a boy back to find out what was holding him up." "Well, I know the boy." "Bring him on in here." "I don't suppose you mean this stalwart young man here, do you?" "Are you all right, boy?" "Yes, sir." "Mr. Andersen..." "... doI looklikethe kindofmanto you  that would beat on an innocent boy?" "You look like the vermin-ridden son of a bitch you are." "Well, my sainted mama didn't think so." "Now, boy, you get over there and sit down." "Go on." "Now!" "And sit down!" "And the rest of you boys, sit down right now!" "Now old friend..." "... I 'llhavethegun ." "That's right." "I'll also have the belt, because you ain't gonna need it." "That's good." "Pick it up and bring it over to me." "I don't think you heard what I said!" "I said to bend over, pick up the belt and bring it right here to me, now!" "Pride." "Stubborn pride." "I admire that." "That truly is..." "... anadmirablequality." "To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have picked it up either." "Mr. Andersen..." "... howmuchwouldyousay that them cattle are worth apiece?" "Fifteen?" "Sixteen?" "Maybe $17 a head?" "Now, old friend..." "... I amreadytoberich." "You, come here!" "Right now!" "Get up!" "You kept our little secret, didn't you?" "Answer him." "Yes, sir." "Me." "You don't listen to him anymore." "You gotta look to me now, you understand that?" "How old are you?" "I just turned 13." "Really?" "By the time I was your age, I had already killed a man." "You done anything like that?" "No, sir." "I'll bet not." "You're the runt of your family, ain't you?" "Yes, sir." "Where are your glasses?" "You had some glasses." "Where are they?" "Son, there's no glass in there." "You must have broken them, huh?" "Say, look at that..." "... I canseemyselfback home now." "And all them carpetbaggers calling me "mister."" "I'd like them back when you're through." "They've been in my family for a long time." "Well, you can have them back." "Here." "All right." "We've seen what you can do with a boy." "How are you when they come a little bigger?" "You mean you?" "Yeah." "Why don't you tell your boys to just sit this one out?" "You love to make it happen, don't you?" "You having any of it?" "Well, sir, you're..." "... aprettyoldman ." "Yeah, I'm 30 years older than you are." "Had my back broke once and my hip twice." "And on my worst day I could beat the hell out of you." "I don't think so." "You will." "Get away from him!" "Get away from him!" "You're mine." "All mine." "Now, come on, you get up, you son of a bitch." "You miserable wretch!" "Mount up!" "Stop, you son of a bitch!" "Go to hell!" "Turn around!" "I want you to see this coming!" "I said, stop!" "You're mine, you old bastard." "Leave him alone!" "Get back." "Clear back, all of you." "We're leaving." "What about them kids?" "They're not going nowhere." "Take everything but the fire." "What happened here?" "Rustlers, Mr. Nightlinger." "They've been following us since we started out." "Why would they do this to him?" "Mr. Andersen put up a fight." "Ain't there anything we can do for him?" "Yes, there is." "You can be men." "Mr. Nightlinger..." "... you'rescaringtheboys." "You wanna sit up?" "No." "Could you drink some whiskey?" "No." "Is there anything... ?" "I want you to see that..." "... theseboysallget home." "I will." "Summer's over." "Just about." "I'm proud of you." "All of you." "Every man wants his..." "... childrentobe ..." "... betterthanhewas." "You are." "This may seem..." "... alonesomeplacetoleavehim." "But he's not alone." "Because..." "... manyof hiskindrest here with him." "The prairie..." "... waslikeamothertoMr.Andersen." "He belonged to her." "She cared for him while he lived and..." "... she'snursinghim..." "... whilehesleeps." "Now!" "What--?" "What are you doing?" "We didn't want to do it this way, but we knew you wouldn't give them to us." "We're gonna get the herd back for Mr. Andersen and take it on to Belle Fourche." "You're gonna get yourselves killed." "We're gonna finish a job." "Better have a plan." "Turn me loose and we'll make one." "Cut him loose." "Dung heap!" "Come back here!" "Hey, you." "Come on in!" "What the hell's the matter with them?" "Mount up!" "Look at that." "Come on." "You've been behind this all the time, ain't you, nigger?" "Not at first, but I came round to it." "You take your hat off when you talk to me, mister!" "Now you're acting mighty calm considering what it is I got in store for you." "What have you got to show me, white man, that I haven't seen before?" "Don't you sass me, you black!" "Give me that rope." "This is what?" "You ever seen one of these?" "You ever seen a nigger run?" "Run, nigger!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Get up!" "Get up!" "Since you mean to hang me..." "... I 'dliketo atonetomymaker ." "You got one minute." "Speak your piece." "Where to begin?" "I regret having trifled with married women." "I'm thoroughly ashamed of having cheated at cards." "I deplore my occasional departures from the truth." "Forgive me for taking your name in vain..." "... mySaturdaydrunkenness, my Sunday sloth." "Above all..." "... forgivemefor the men I've killed in anger..." "... andforthoseIam aboutto." "Look out!" "Get off!" "I think my leg is broken." "Don't let him get up." "Oh, my God, don't let him get up." "I think my leg is broke." "The other one is hung up." "You!" "Son, please cut me loose." "Please!" "I'll make it worth your while." "I promise." "Oh, thank you." "Don't!" "Don't!" "Stop him!" "Who are these kids?" "Now what do you want on it?" "His name." "Wil Andersen." "Wil Andersen." "Anything else?" "Like what?" "Well, it's usual to say something like, "Rest in peace."" ""Eternal sleep."" ""In fond memory of... . "" "Was he a family man?" "Did he have any children?" "Yes." "Well, then I carve, "Beloved husband and father."" "That'd be fine." "I don't see it." "It's gotta be around here somewhere." "I remember that tree." "There must've been a heavy rain." "Washed it away." "We ain't never gonna find it now." "Come on in." "Boys." "I think it's close enough." "Well, come on, we're burning daylight."