If he [Tom Chaney] is not in a shallow grave somewhere between here and Fort Smith, he is gone, long gone. Thanks to Mr. LaBoeuf we missed our shot! He barked and the birds have flown. Gone, gone, gone! Lucky Ned and his cohort, gone! Your fifty dollars, gone! Gone the whiskey — seized as evidence. The trail is cold if there ever was one. I'm a foolish old man who has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop. Mr. LaBoeuf can wander the Choctaw nation for as long as he likes. Perhaps the local Indians will take him in and honor his gibberings by making him chief! Sister, you may go where you like. Our engagement is terminated. I bow out.
More from True Grit
Defense Lawyer Mister Cogburn, in your four years as US Marshal, how many men have you shot?
Rooster Cogburn Shot? Or killed?
Defense Lawyer Let us restrict it to killed, so we may have a manageable figure!
Mattie Ross If I had killed Chaney, I would not be in this fix, but my gun misfired.
Lucky Ned Pepper They will do it. It will embarrass you every time. Most girls like to play pretties, but you like guns, do you?
Mattie Ross I do not care a thing about guns; if I did, I would have one that worked.
Rooster Cogburn We'll sleep here and follow in the morning.
Mattie Ross But we promised to bury the poor soul inside!
Rooster Cogburn Ground's too hard. Them men wanted a decent burial, they should have got themselves killed in summer.
True Grit
All True Grit quotes →
All True Grit quotes →
