"Eeeeeee-yip-yeeeee!" Thus vociferating, he rode straight at the footman, with apparently the deliberate wish to ride him down.

He wist not that the latter had seen cavalry in his day, and was not easily to be disconcerted, and, finding that he failed to create a panic, he pulled up with the pony's nose almost over Franklin's shoulder.
"Hello, stranger," cried the rider, cheerfully; "where are you goin', this bright an' happy mornin' ?" Franklin was none too pleased at the method of introduction selected by this youth, but a look at his open and guileless face forbade the thought of offence.

The cowboy sat his horse as though he was cognizant of no such creature beneath him.

His hand was held high and wabbling as he bit off a chew from a large tobacco plug the while he jogged alongside.
Franklin made no immediate reply, and the cowboy resumed.
"Have a chaw ?" he said affably, and looked surprised when Franklin thanked him but did not accept.
"Where's yore hoss, man ?" asked the new-comer with concern.

"Where you goin', headin' plum south, an' 'thout no hoss ?" "Oh," said Franklin, smiling, "I'm not going far; only over south a mile or so.