- [Cal, dressed like an Eastern dude, approaches the campsite]
- Cal: Hello the camp!
- Ned: Mother, what is that?
- Oresquote: Well, it's alive.
- Ned: And pretty.
- Digger: It looks like a kitty got losted.
- Ned: Maybe if we shut our eyes, it'll go away.
- Dave Blassingame: Looks like he might holler some.
- Oresquote: It wears a gun!
- Ned: Talk to it, Dave.
- Dave Blassingame: Yeah, I believe I will. I know it looks kinda scary, though.
- Cal: I was born in New Hampshire.
- Ned: Where?
- Dave Blassingame: New Hampshire. Is that a place?
- Ned: It's a cow. Eastern stock.
- Digger: Beef or milk?
- Cal: I can handle this if I have to.
- Dave Blassingame: You can't handle nothin'.
- Mazo: Kid seems to think he's good enough.
- Cal: Well, I am!
- Mazo: Ya hear?
- Dave Blassingame: I got wax in my ears.
- Mazo: You're gonna have dirt in your face, you don't stay clear of me.
- Cal: You head up one of these outfits, don't you? Well, I'd like to get a job with you. I wouldn't expect much pay... any for that matter.
- Dave Blassingame: Now why should I give you a job, boy? You're a long way from home and you don't know enough to keep your mouth shut and your hand still.
- Cal: Well, I could learn! I read a lot and I can ride.
- Dave Blassingame: You got a man shot by somebody else. You better stick to readin'. I hear it's a pleasin' thing.
- Oresquote: It's a question of time.
- Dave Blassingame: You sure?
- Oresquote: Olor de la muerte.
- Cal: What was that?
- Oresquote: I said, "You have the smell of death on you."
- Dave Blassingame: Look, do you know what this is?
- [Dave holds up a bullet]
- Dave Blassingame: That's a 45 caliber 240 grain hunk of lead that can splatter your brains out like a jumped on squash. You ever seen a bullet hole?
- Cal: ...Meso.
- Dave Blassingame: I mean up close. Oh, it goes in little enough, but then it tears you up inside and if it comes out - that's if you're lucky and it comes out - it leaves a hole about like that.
- [Dave holds up his fist]
- Dave Blassingame: Now a gun ain't somethin' you play with, it's to kill people with and you don't reach for it unless you're going to shoot and you don't shoot unless you're going to kill!