“That started ye,” said Ben, joyfully. “Whoa, Diamond. Can ye stand it?”
“Yaw, yaw, pull away,” cried Jan, in an eager tone. “I shtands any t’ings so dat I gits out vrom dis blace.”
“Pull, Diamond,” said Ben.
The horse drew away on the lariat, and to the intense joy of both, the body of the Dutchman was pulled high up on the hard ground. For a moment Jan lay panting, and the next he sprung up and grasped the trapper by both hands.
“T’ank you, Penn. I don’t say much, but I dinks a great deal. I nefer forgets vile I lifs.”
“Pshaw,” said Ben. “Thank the hoss; he did the work.”
The intelligent animal turned his head to look at them, as if conscious that they were talking of him, and bent forward that he might receive the caresses which Jan showered upon him. For awhile they thought nothing of the man who lay at their feet, until Jan’s eye fell upon him as he lay there, his black eyes twinkling with rage and apprehension.
“Dere he lies, dat villains!” said Jan. “He gets me in der mut, unt den he von’t help me out.”
“I was jubous he’d do something of the kind,” said Ben. “I wa’n’t fur away. Thet’s what I let him go with ye fur, jest to try him. I’m sorry I did it now. Ain’t he a sweet specimen for a human?”
He stooped and loosened the strap on the legs of the Frenchman.