But that would have been an added unkindness.

Lifting the reins and sitting erect in the saddle, he said indifferently, "Well, I must be moving.

I take a short cut here.

So long! Better make it on down to the goat ranch--it's not far." He touched his horse with the spur and the animal sprang away.
"Good-bye!" called the stranger, and that wistful look was in his eyes as the rider swung his horse aside from the road, plunged down the mountain side, and dashed away through the brush and over the rocks with reckless speed.

With a low exclamation of wondering admiration, the man climbed hastily to a higher point, and from there watched until horse and rider, taking a steeper declivity without checking their breakneck course, dropped from sight in a cloud of dust.