I whistled under my breath, and eyed the lock with extreme disfavor.
But I had learned a trick of the cowboys.

I pulled the wire off a couple of posts at one side of the gate, laid them flat on the ground, and led Shylock over them.

Then I found a rock, pounded the staples back in place, and went on; only for the tracks, one could not notice that any had passed that way.

Still, it was a bit ticklish, riding down King's Highway alone and with no idea of what lay farther on.

But dad had dared go that way, and to fight at the far end; and what dad had not been afraid to tackle, it did not behoove his son to back down from.