He did not seem a suspicious character--quite the contrary--and yet--there was that significant hurried movement as if to escape when the horseman had surprised him.

The etiquette of the country forbade a direct question, but-- "Yes," he agreed thoughtfully, "walking comes in handy sometimes.

I don't take to it much myself, though." Then he added shrewdly, "You were at the celebration, I reckon." The stranger's voice betrayed quick enthusiasm, but that odd wistfulness crept into his eyes again and he seemed to lose a little of his poise.
"Indeed I was," he said.

"I never saw anything to compare with it.

I've seen all kinds of athletic sports and contests and exhibitions, with circus performances and riding, and that sort of thing, you know, and I've read about such things, of course, but"-- and his voice grew thoughtful--"that men ever actually did them--and all in the day's work, as you may say--I--I never dreamed that there _were_ men like that in these days." The cowboy shifted his weight uneasily in the saddle, while he regarded the man on the ground curiously.