"That basin's like a furnace, micah." "Yeah, can't say I relish crossing' it this time o' day." "Why don't we camp for now, an' cross it tonight." "Well, might be a good idea." "Grub up here, rest a few hours" "An'-an' head out about midnight." "I'll be glad when we get laughing boy off our hands." "Every time I look at 'im, I feel like scratching myself." "All right, stanley, get off that horse, an' make up your bedding." "Wow!" "I sure do wish you fellas would think twice about keeping" "These here irons on me." "I'll rustle up some firewood, lucas." "You just ain't giving' me a sporting' chance, mr." "Mccain." "More of a sporting' chance than you an' your drunken" "Indian friends gave that rancher an' his family." "Well, you wouldn't want us to lift hairpieces" "Off of live folks, mr." "Mccain." "Stanley, get your bedding down, before I shove you under" "A rock where you belong." "Hey!" "Go, come on, go!" "Get out o' here!" "Yeah!" "Hey!" "Who's gonna die first, huh, marshal?" "You?" "You, mr." "Mccain?" "Me?" "No, maybe me?" "Well, maybe I got nothin' to lose," "Being as how they're gonna hang me." "Half way across, no water." "We don't round up those horses, stanley," "You're gonna be needin' water just as bad as we do." "Oh, you didn't hear me good before, mr." "Mccain!" "I said I got nothin' to lose!" "Go ahead!" "Run!" "Run!" "An' I'm bettin' that I'll be on my feet at the end." "I'm bettin' ol' stanley here will live to stomp on your grave" "By sundown tomorrow!" "That black o' mine will keep goin' till he finds water." "Probably headed with those other two over to those foothills." "Your animals sure are dumb." "Running helter-skelter off like that." "They ought to know better." "Come on, get out there, an' get busy collecting' firewood!" "Anythin' you say, marshal." "I won't mention that a guest shouldn't do the work around" "Here." "Politeness is the way I was brought up." "Every time he opens his mouth, I feel lost, like I was playin'" "Checkers blindfolded." "Now, don' let 'im get under our skins, micah." "We've got our own problem." "100 miles on foot, an' no water." "Lucas, I'm not gonna let this become your problem." "You made this trip as a favor to me." "I, uh, well, as of now," "I'm releasin' you from your oath as deputy." "Don't get your meaning', micah." "My meaning' is, you're a husky young fella, capable of gettin'" "To santa fe if you don't have somebody like me" "Slowin' your steps." "If you think I'm gonna leave you alone with stanley," "You're more loco than he is." "I'm just being practical." "The indians haven't called this place devil's crossin'" "For nothing'." "If you get to santa fe," "You can get water an' horses an' come back for us." "Come back to do what, bury you?" "Lucas, I'm figurin' the worst here." "You got a son to go back" "To, I know you can make it alone." "Oh, I can make it alone too," "Marshal, if you're thinkin' o' splitting' up." "What makes you think we won't make sure you dyin' first?" "Marshal, you an' mr." "Mccain ever, uh, shoot a man down," "Didn't have a gun?" "I'm gonna stomp on your grave, marshal." "Just what I'm gonna do." "I'm gonna stomp an' stomp." "D'you ever see a man sweatin' out his life, uh, mr." "Mccain?" "We'll be movin' out when the moon is up, stanley," "So save your breath." "I seen it once, seen a man sweating' out his life," "Drop by drop." "Sure to be a sight tomorrow." "I just can't wait to" "See if you're half the man people say." "Well, you sure ain't gonna get" "No place hangin' back like that, mr." "Mccain." "Ain't travelled but five hours, maybe another 100 hours get us" "To, uh, santa fe." "You all right, micah?" "No complaints, lucas." "Micah?" "Nowhere near noon yet, marshal," "When that ol' sun gets feeling' chipper." "There's nothing like takin' a little walk in the sun..." "To bring out the age in a man, lucas." "Another hour, micah, we'll" "We'll make camp." "We can rest by day, an'..." "Travel by night." "Come on." "I was thinkin' about now, uh," "I could kinda do you fellas a favor," "Sorta ease a poor situation, like they say." "All right, turn around, stanley an'..." "Get movin'." "Oh, well, I just figured that, uh, you might like to..." "Know where there's some water." "Water?" "Yeah, kinda perked your ears, didn't it?" "I figured about now, you'd be in the mood for swapping'." "You know, water for the keys to these here irons." "Where would you get water?" "Well, when the marshal shows his key," "We'll talk about the where." "Those irons are stayin' on you," "Stanley till you're back behind bars again." "Well, then you just keep thinking about that water" "I'm offerin', nice cool water in return for takin' these here" "Irons off, an' just sorta turn your backs while I go off." "You just keep thinking, you hear?" "You don't believe 'im, do you?" "Ordinarily I wouldn't," "Exceptin'..." "I recall how that band of indians stanley took up" "With used to cross this basin," "Without carrying' any water at all." "They tell they found a hidden spring somewheres." "Kept it covered up, just to make sure nobody else could use it." "He wants his freedom." "He wouldn't promise water if he couldn't deliver it." "I think if" "Stanley gets thirsty enough, he'll say where that water is," "Chains or no." "Well, you might be right." "Good chance there is water," "Gives us a ray o' sunshine, not that we need it." "Come on." "Micah?" "What're you doin'?" "If there's a mud hole around, I can spot it from up here!" "What's the matter, stanley?" "You afraid he'll see that secret water hole o' yours?" "I can stick your nose two inches from that water," "Mr. Mccain, an' you wouldn't see it." "Anythin', micah?" "You might see a right final rise from that high up, marshal!" "Nothing, lucas!" "Micah!" "Micah!" "Are you all right?" "Micah, are you all right?" "Fool thing to do, yeah." "Well, let me sit you over" "Here in the shade." "What's the matter?" "Well, uh, offhand, lucas boy," "I'd say..." "I had a cracked rib or two." "Hey, anything' ol' stanley" "Here could do, marshal, you just, uh, say a word." "Look, micah, I think we better rest here a couple o' hours," "Till you get your wind back, huh?" "You could say it right out," "Lucas." "It's more than wind I'll be needin'." "Seem to me all we do is stop an' rest." "You don't take to me, do you, mr." "Mccain?" "Lucas, let's not mince words." "Something's happened to me." "I'm drying' out a lot faster than I thought I would." "I'm beginnin' to think we" "Better agree to stanley's terms, micah." "You think I could ever face the people o' north fork," "Knowing that stanley might be with some outlaw band," "Torturin' an' killin' again?" "Look, I'll hunt him down for you, I promise you." "The important thing now, is for you to get water." "I sure wish you fellas would" "Let me in on the talk." "Gets kinda lonesome over here." "No, no, lucas, water or no" "Water." "I've got a hunch we'll-we'll beat this thing" "An' reach santa fe alive." "Now, you go on with stanley." "When he drops, you just keep right on walkin'." "By tonight, stanley should" "Be thirsty enough to say where that water is." "By tonight, yeah, maybe he'll crack." "A man out here could last" "A whole day, maybe even two, if he took it easy." "Yeah." "Or he could burn himself out in an hour." "If you hurry in this heat, you won't even last an hour." "Not me, micah, I'm talkin'" "About stanley." "If I could burn him up, get 'im to the point" "Where he'd sell what's left" "Of his soul for water, then you've got a chance." "You know, I sure was raised better than to be whisperin'" "Around company the way you fellas are." "What do you think?" "Might work." "It'll work, micah." "If there's water," "That's the only chance we've got." "Yeah." "All right, lucas." "Don't overplay your hand." "To drive him you'll have to drive yourself." "I'll be back, micah." "All right, on you feet, stanley." "You ain't gonna leave a- a good friend, like, uh, marshal," "Behind are you, mr." "Mccain?" "Somethin' I wouldn't do personally." "Hey!" "Better not go to sleep there, marshal!" "Them buzzards been known to pick" "A man's eyes when he's still breathin'." "All right, stanley!" "Don't you worry about me, lucas." "Any place in particular" "You're, uh, choosing' to die, mr." "Mccain." "Just start walkin', stanley." "It's gonna be a walk you'll never forget!" "Mr. Mccain, you don't know this country like I know it." "You keep" "Movin' in this sun, first thing you know, you just- you just" "Stop moving'." "Your throat gets so dry, it just sticks together." "All right, keep movin', stanley, over those rocks." "Well, them rocks don't- don't lead no place, except down" "The other side." "Easier to go around." "Up, stanley." "You know, the last hour we've been walkin' places" "Even dumb mules see ain't fit to walk." "Dust, a foot deep." "All the rocks are sharp enough to shave on." "Don't make sense." "You go up, I'll go round, I'll meet you." "Over the rocks, stanley." "Oh, playin' a game, is that it, mr." "Mccain?" "You should've told me we're playin' a game." "You or me, who drops first?" "You wanna run fast, is that it?" "Or maybe we could play the game together, mr." "Mccain, see if" "You can, uh, keep up with me." "You sure got fun, mr." "Mccain, goin' round in circles." "You know, I-I figured about now you an' me could strike" "A- a bargain." "That water," "For- for you just sorta turning' your back." "On your feet, an' keep goin'." "Ain't- ain't anybody gonna know, except for us, mr." "Mccain." "Marshal'll be dead." "Don't have to say that- that you gave in." "You just say that, uh, I kinda" "Sneaked off while- while your back was turned." "All right, mccain, you want it like this?" "Ol' stanley oblige." "I'll just come over an' see if" "I could be of any help, mr." "Mccain." "Stanley, I'm warnin' you." "You know I've seen men walk in this desert sun until they" "Thought every sandy hill was a cool pool o' water." "You know, it's funny, mr." "Mccain." "Not only looks like water, it tastes like water." "I seen a man once, he started poking that dirt down his" "Throat, an'..." "He didn't even know it was dirt, till it" "Started strangling him." "It's gonna happen to you, mr." "Mccain," "An' I'm gonna be around to lend a helping hand." "Ol' stanley's" "Gonna right here, helping' poke" "That nice water dirt down your throat." "You can't do it, mccain." "Oh, yes, I can." "All I have to do is think o' that burnin'" "Wagon, an' that rancher, an' his family." "All I have to do is" "Think that it'll happen again," "If you stay alive an' go free, stanley." "Yeah, like I said, mr." "Mccain, I'm gonna be around" "To stomp on your grave." "No, you are not." "Yeah, I'm gonna be around to" "Help you poke that water dirt down your throat!" "Lucas!" "Don't, lucas!" "Micah!" "Micah!" "I'm all right, lucas." "Travelin' around an' around," "Gettin' nowhere!" "That's what we've been doin'." "Lucas, you're too strong a man, don't let this desert beat" "You." "You go on, an' leave stanley." "The desert will do for" "Him what the law wanted to do." "You can come back for me." "Stanley got big things to do!" "Big!" "You've lived among the indians, stanley." "You've seen men go" "Blind, being held down in the sun like this!" "Now, you tell me" "Where that water is, stanley!" "Or so help me, I'll stake you out" "To dry, like a steer hide." "Stanley, where's the water?" "Where's that water, stanley?" "Lucas!" "Lucas!" "It was there all the time!" "Right on top o' you!" "You fools!" "Look!" "The lake!" "What's he up to now, micah?" "He's losin' what little mind he had left." "Please come to ol' stanley." "Here, come." "There it is." "Ol' stanley don't like to dig in no" "Rocks!" "Not ol' stanley!" "Please come to stanley!" "Lucas, he's swallowing' dirt." "Stanley!" "That's the end he predicted for me." "Stuffin' dirt in his mouth," "Believin' it was water." "Micah!" "It's the horses, micah!" "It's water, micah, an underground spring." "That's why" "The horses came back, they smelled water!" "This is what stanley was pointin' to." "He couldn't crawl" "Here, so he- imagined the water is flowin' out to meet him." "Don't worry, fella." "Two minutes, you'll have all the water you want." "I took care o' the drying' too." "Thanks, son." "An' the rest o' the week I'll do the washing' an' drying' both." "Till you're better, that is." "Thanks again, mark." "You know, by next week I oughta be fit" "Enough to keep that squirrel huntin' date with micah." "That's what I had in my mind." "Hold on." "What's the matter?" "Nothin' is the matter, son." "We've got plenty o' water on the ranch, it's- it's funny, I, uh," "Take the good things for granted." "Go ahead." "Let me help you, as a matter of fact." "All right, that's enough." "Pa, what are you doin'?" "I"