Quite unintentional, I assure you!"
He bowed, cackling horribly.
Silver looked ugly.
"Now then!" he said, and advanced a pace.
The girl put a staying hand upon him; and the tout shambled away toward the Gap, muttering to himself.
Silver turned to his companion. He was breathing deep, but outwardly unmoved.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "He knocked Billy Bluff out, but he didn't touch me. Hold your paw, Bill! It's nothing much. I shall put him on a wet bandage soaked in borax when I get home."
A sound of hand-clapping and hoarse laughter ascended to them from the Gap.
Joses had slipped Ragamuffin's reins over the post, and was clapping his hands. Then he took up a pebble and threw it at the roan. The old pony went off at a gallop and with trailing reins.