Now, the best of cow-horses are not above taking advantage of their opportunities.

Perhaps Snip felt that fenceriding with a tenderfoot was a little beneath the dignity of his cattle-punching years.

Perhaps he reasoned that this man who was always doing such strange things was purposely dismissing him.

Perhaps he was thinking of the long watering trough and the rich meadow grass at home.
Or, perhaps again, the wise old Snip, feeling the responsibility of his part in training the Dean's pupil, merely thought to give his inexperienced master a lesson.

However it happened, Patches looked up from his work some time later to find himself alone.