"When I come back I'll be in a position to buy you out! I'll borrow Skate and Maverick, if you don't mind, till I get located somewhere." He paused while he lighted the cigarette.

"It's the custom," He reminded his father unnecessarily, "to furnish a man a horse to ride and one to pack his bed, when he's fired." "Ye've horses of yer own," Bob Birnie retorted, "and you've no need to borrow." Bud stood looking down at his father, plainly undecided.

"I don't know whether they're mine or not," he said after a minute.

"I don't know what it cost you to raise me.

Figure it up, if you haven't already, and count the time I've worked for you.