Bill was perplexed; it was all new to him; but Bruce was mainly irritated.

To him it was all old and filled with memories he hated to face.

At any rate he was unusually savage that evening, drank heavily and went home late, raging and cursing at things in general and The Pilot in particular--for Moore, in a timid sort of way, had tried to quiet him and help him to his horse.
"Ornery sort o' beast now, ain't he ?" said Hi, with the idea of comforting The Pilot, who stood sadly looking after Bruce disappearing in the gloom.
"No! no!" he answered, quickly, "not a beast, but a brother." "Brother! Not much, if I know my relations!" answered Hi, disgustedly.
"The Master thinks a good deal of him," was the earnest reply.
"Git out!" said Hi, "you don't mean it! Why," he added, decidedly, "he's more stuck on himself than that mean old cuss you was tellin' about this afternoon, and without half the reason." But Moore only said, kindly, "Don't be hard on him, Hi," and turned away, leaving Hi and Bill gravely discussing the question, with the aid of several drinks of whisky.

They were still discussing when, an hour later, they, too, disappeared into the darkness that swallowed up the trail to Ashley Ranch.

That was the first of many such services.