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The love scenes at the last were poignantly real, but they passed before his eyes unnoticed. Bud's mind was dwelling upon certain love scenes of his own. He was feeling Marie's presence beside him there in the dusk. "Poor kid she wasn't so much to blame," he muttered just above his breath, when the screen was swept clean and blank at the end of the last reel. "Huh?
But the heavy old cart had told on Ben Butler. He panted like a hound, he staggered and was distressed. "He'll get over that," said the old driver cheerily to Bud's tearful gaze "he ain't used to it yet ten years, think of it," and Jack led Ben Butler blanketed away. The old man looked at the summary the judges had hung up.
"Sure thing!" said the Spider, returning his grasp, "but, bo, I'm kind o' wonderin' in me little mind what Bud's feelin' like! You sure swatted him good an' heavy. I never seen cleaner footwork, an' them left jabs o' yours " "The question is, how do you feel, Spider, and what are you going to do?" The pugilist scratched his rough chin. "Well, that's what gets my goat; I dunno quite, bo.
Bud's guitar and a mandolin in their cases he tied securely on top of the pack. Smoky, the second horse, a deep-chested "mouse" with a face almost human in its expression, he saddled, and put a lead rope on the third, a bay four-year-old called Stopper, which was the Tomahawk's best rope-horse and one that would be missed when fast work was wanted in branding.
"I was just starting out to see what had become of you," he added, his voice carrying the full weight of reproach that the words only hinted at. "Well, get an eyeful, if that's what you come for. I'm here and lookin's cheap." Bud's anger flared at the disapproval he read in Cash's eyes, his voice, the set of his lips. But Cash did not take the challenge.
It was Bud's voice which broke the silence that followed. "Guess the work's pretty tough," he said. "You don't need to fergit you bin a mighty sick man. If you do, why, you'll be li'ble to find yourself on Nan's hands again." "I couldn't wish for better." The reply had come on the instant. It must have warned even Bud that he had found a key to the man's abstraction. "That's so sure."
By the way, it was from this peculiar manner of laugh, that Hal got his nickname, Tee-hee. Cub's given name was Robert, shortened sometimes to Bob and Bud's was Roy. Cub and Bud were always known by their nicknames, but Hal was addressed as Tee-hee only on fitting or intermittent occasions.
But even as they started off once more Bud, who had just consulted a compass he carried, uttered a cry of amazement. "What's the matter?" asked Slim. "We're going the wrong way," declared Bud. "We're heading north instead of south. We're all turned around! Something's wrong!" Some of those in the rear, who had heard Bud's exclamation, but who had not clearly heard what he said, came crowding up.
Hank Sterling squeezed the young inventor's arm. "You know Bud's high spirits, skipper," he said. "He may have taken off on some crazy lark." "Sure! A whale hunt, maybe!" Arv Hanson wisecracked, trying to lighten the gloom. Tom forced a grin, but he remained heavy-hearted as they neared the base.
Dirk rode so close that his horse shouldered Bud's leg discomfortingly. "I been edgin' yuh along to see what-f'r brand yuh carried. And I've got ye now, you damned snoopin' kioty. Bart, he hired yuh to work-and not to go prowling around lookin' up trails that ain't there " "You're a dim-brand reader, I don't think! Why you !"
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