He was lyin' in front of the store an' you was inside tradin', fer supplies, I reckon.

It was like meetin' an enemy face to face.

Because, damn me if I didn't know that cougar was guilty when he looked in my eyes! There!" The old rancher expected to be laughed at.

But Dale was grave.
"Al, I know how you felt," he replied, as if they were discussing an action of a human being.

"Sure I'd hate to doubt old Tom.