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@@@@@He had to be honest now, face all the
@@@@@He had to be honest now, face all the objectionsIn his defeat it was very important for him to maintain a last tatter of dignity
"Ah know the way," Ridges grunted
"Well, then, I'll stay," Brown said"Somebody's gotta take care of Stanley He shook him for a moment, but Stanley's moaning continued"He's through for the day
"Listen, I'll tell you what," Goldstein said, "after Stanley gets up you can catch us, and give some helpThat'll be fine, huh?"
"Okay, leave it that way," Brown saidBoth of them knew that would not happen
"Let's be movin'," Ridges saidHe and Goldstein got at opposite ends of the stretcher, lifted it painfully and staggered offAfter twenty yards they set it down again, stripped off all but one pack and one rifle"You bring that stuff in, all right, Brown?" Goldstein asked
They labored off again, advancing at a painfully slow paceEven stripped of equipment, the litter with Wilson on it weighed more than two hundred poundsIt took them almost an hour to cross a low ridge a half mile awayWhen they were out of sight, Brown took off his shoes and massaged the blisters and sores on his feetThey had almost ten miles to goBrown sighed, and slowly kneaded his big toeI oughta turn in my stripes, he thought
But he knew he wouldn'tIt'll just go on and on until I get bustedHe looked at Stanley, who was still lying on the groundAaah, the two of us are just alik |