The Heart of Cherry McBain: A Novel

THE HEART OF CHERRY McBAIN
A Novel
DOUGLAS DURKIN
TORONTO THE MUSSON BOOK COMPANY LIMITED
Copyright. Canada, 1919.
THE MUSSON BOOK CO., LIMITED Publishers TORONTO
CONTENTS
THE HEART OF CHERRY McBAIN
CHAPTER ONE
Although it was late afternoon it was very hot—hot even for August. The horse ambled sleepily up the dusty trail, his head low and his eyes not more than half open. The rein hung loosely over his neck where it had been tossed by the rider who sat dozing in the saddle, his two hands folded across the pommel in front of him. The only alert member of the group, for there were three of these companions of the road, was the dog, a mongrel collie that trotted ahead with tongue hanging, or waited panting in the middle of the trail for the horse and rider to come up.
Suddenly the horse stumbled clumsily and the rider came to himself with a start.
Steady up, you fool! he said, and then, as if he regretted the tone in which he had spoken, he leaned forward slightly and passed his hand along the hot neck shining with sweat, and brushed away the big brown flies that clustered about the horse's ears.