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They were seven against one; therefore, after making some caustic remarks, which produced as little effect as had Weary's command upon the first man, the seven were constrained to ride here and there along the wavering, gray line, and, with shouts and swinging ropes, themselves drive the sheep from the coulee. There was much clamor and dust and riding to and fro.
"By golly, the lemonade 'll be cold, and so'll the san'wiches, before we git there," put in Slim, with one of his sporadic efforts to be funny. "We got t' go back." "Back nothing," chorused five outraged voices. "We'll hunt some other crossing." "Down the creek a piece yuh mind where that old sandbar runs half across? We'll try that." Weary's tone was hopeful, and they turned and followed him.
The schoolma'am refused to stop, or to turn her head a fraction of an inch, and Weary's face sobered a little. It was the first time that inimitable "Tee-e-cher" of his had failed to bring the smile back into the eyes of Miss Satterly. He looked after her dubiously. Her shoulders were thrown well back and her feet pressed their imprint firmly into the yellow dust of the trail.
Glory comprehended the fact with one roll of his knowing eyes, turned away to the left and took the trail which wound like a snake into the foothills. Clinging warily to the level where choice was given him, trotting where the way was rough, mile after mile he covered till even Weary's patience showed signs of weakening.
"The horses, they are of the vivacious temperament, yes?" Jakie had scrambled from the seat to within the door and was standing there smiling appreciatively at the team. "Aw, they're all right. You go on in I guess Weary's there. If he ain't, you go ahead and get what yuh want. I'll be back after awhile."
"If I can help you, Mr. Weary, I will," he promised generously. "Will yuh be my friend? Will yuh let me lean on yuh in my dark hours?" Weary's voice shook with emotion. Pink said that he would, and he seemed very sympathetic and anxious for Weary's safety.
He leaned carelessly upon the saddle-horn and fixed his big, innocent eyes upon Weary's flushed face. "He's pretty cute, if he is full," he murmured discreetly to Cal. "He won't let his gun get empty see? Loads after every third shot, regular. We've got to get him so excited he forgets that little ceremony. Once his gun's empty, he's all to the bad we can take him into camp.
"I've got business out uh town, and I want to be back time the stage pulls in." "Well, Limpy's still holding the ribbons over them buckskins uh his, and he ain't varied five minutes in five years," responded the bartender. "So I guess yuh can look for him same old time." Weary's eyes opened a bit wider, then drooped humorously.
Why" he laughed at her "you talked to him yourself, one day, and thought it was Weary. Remember when you came over with the mail? That was Irish helping me string wire. He's been wearing Weary's hat and clothes and cultivating a twinkle to his eyes that's all." "Why, I well, anyway, that man they've been making a fuss over is just as well as you are, James.
Weary's schoolma'am had offended him deeply, at a dance the winter before, by patting him indulgently on the shoulder and telling him to "Run along and find you a partner." Such things rankled, and he knew that the girls knew it, and that it amused them very much. Worse, the Happy Family knew it, and it amused them even more than it amused the girls.
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