"Howdy, Joe!" The younger man, who was gazing stupidly at Patches, returned the salutation with an unintelligible mumble, and proceeded to roll a cigarette.
"You folks at the Cross-Triangle short of horses ?" asked Nick, with an evident attempt at jocularity, alluding to the situation of the two men, who were riding one horse.
"We got mixed up with a bull back yonder," Phil explained briefly.
"They can sure put a horse out o' the game mighty quick sometimes," commented the other.

"I've lost a few that way myself.

It's about as far from here to my place as it is to Baldwin's, or I'd help you out.

You're welcome, you know." "Much obliged," returned Phil, "but we'll make it home all right.

I reckon we'd better be moving, though.