beats. Pulling his hat down over his black brows to secure it against
the wind, Tom climbed the corral fence and straddled the top rail that
he might scan the herd.

"Pretty good-looking bunch, dad," said Al, reining up beside Tom. "We
had to ride some to get 'em in--they're sure snuffy. What you going to
do with 'em? Break out a few?"

"Some. Did yuh take notice, Al, that Coaley come within an ace of
sending me over the road? That there AJ man swore to the horse when he
wouldn't never have swore to me, but they all took it as a cinch it
was me he saw, because nobody else ever rides Coaley. And by the Lord
John, Al, that's the last time any man's going to swear to me in the
dark by the horse I'm ridin'. The Devil's Tooth outfit is going to
have a lot more saddle horses broke gentle than what they've got now.
And just between me and you, Al, any more night-ridin' that's done in
this outfit ain't going to be done on cayuses that can be told a mile
off on a dark night!"

"You're durn tootin', dad." Al grinned while he moistened the edge of
his rolled cigarette. "I thought at the time that Coaley was liable to
be a damn expensive horse for you to be ridin'." His eyes traveled
over the restless herd, singling out this horse and that for brief
study. "There's some right speedy stuff in that bunch," he said.
"They've got the look of stayers, some of 'em. Take that there bay
over there by the post: He's got a chest on him like a lion--and look
at them legs! There'd be a good horse for you, dad."

"One, maybe." Tom spat into the dust and, impelled by Al's example,
drew his own cigarette papers from his shirt pocket. "I'm thinkin' of
breakin' all we've got time for this summer. Darn this here makin' one
horse your trademark!"

Up at the house, Riley appeared in the kitchen doorway and gave a long
halloo while he wiped his big freckled hand on his flour-sack apron.
"Hoo-ee! Come an' git it!" He waited a moment, until he saw riders
dismounting and leading their horses into the little corral. Then he
turned back to pour the coffee into the big, thick, white cups
standing in single file around the long oil-cloth-covered table in the
end of the kitchen nearest the side door where the boys would
presently come trooping in to slide loose-jointedly into their places
on the long, shiny benches.

Tom pinched out the blaze of his match and threw one long leg back
over the corral fence. His glance went to the riders beyond the big
c