oncho (never too tired to shy) gave
a frenzied leap. The rider went with him, reins in hand, heels set well
in, knees grasping the saddle.

Mose smiled with genuine pleasure. "I didn't know he could ride like
that," and he turned to follow with a genuine interest.

He came up to Mr. Excell just as the marshal stepped out of the crowd
and accosted him. For the first time in his life Mose was moved to joke
his father.

"Marshal, that man is a dangerous character. I know him; put him out."

The father turned and a smile lit his darkly tanned face. "Harry----"

Mose made a swift sign, "Old man, how are ye?" The minister's manner
pleased his son. He grasped his father's hand with a heartiness that
checked speech for the moment, then he said, "I was looking for you.
Where you from?"

"I've got a summer camp between here and the Springs. I saw the notice
of you in yesterday's paper. I've been watching the newspapers for a
long time, hoping to get some word of you. I seized the first chance and
came on."

Mose turned. "Marshal, I'll vouch for this man; he's an old neighbor of
mine."

Mr. Excell slipped to the ground and Mose took the rein on his arm.
"Come, let's put the horse with mine." They walked away, elbow to elbow.
A wonderful change had swept over Mr. Excell. He was brown, alert, and
vigorous--but more than all, his eyes were keen and cheerful and his
smile ready and manly.

"You're looking well," said the son.

"I _am well_. Since I struck the high altitudes I'm a new man. I don't
wonder you love this life."

"Are you preaching?"

"Yes, I speak once a week in the Springs. I ride down the trail from my
cabin and back again the same day. The fact is I stayed in Rock River
till I was nearly broken. I lost my health, and became morbid, trying to
preach to the needs of the old men and women of my congregation. Now I
am free. I am back to the wild country. Of course, so long as my wife
lived I couldn't break away, but now I have no one but myself and my
needs are small. I am happier than I have been for years."

As they walked and talked together the two men approached an
understanding. Mr. Excell felt sure of his son's interest, for the first
time in many years, and avoided all terms of affection. In his return to
the more primitive, bolder life he unconsciously left behind him all the
"soft phrases" which had disgusted his son. He struck the right note
almost without knowing it, and the son, precisely as h