If a storm came up--and they break with amazing suddenness at times in that part of the world--or if any mishap befell their ponies, a stop would have to be made for the night before reaching the ranch.
Jack Dudley decided to ask a question that had been in his mind for some time.
"Hank, that Indian last night was in my power, and he knew it as well as I, but I spared his life and allowed him to ride away without a hair of his head harmed.

Now, don't you think he will feel some gratitude for that ?" Hazletine threw back his head with uproarious laughter.

He seemed to have heard the best joke of a twelvemonth.
"What give you that idee ?" he asked, when he succeeded in mastering his exuberant mirth.
"Why, the event itself.

I know that an Indian is revengeful by nature, but I have always believed that he was capable of gratitude for kindness." "You've read that in story-books, but you never seed it in life.

I won't be quite as rough as that," added the guide, in the same breath; "I have seen a redskin that didn't furgit that a man had saved him from dying or being shot, but such redskins are as scarce as hen's teeth.