"What's that?" he said.
Boy, riding on, called sharply over her shoulder:
"Come on, Mr. Silver!"
Reluctant as a dog to leave an enemy, the young man obeyed, and caught up the other two.
"Little bit o' bitter," muttered the old man. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "I got him five year for himself," he went on querulously. "And now he ain't satisfied. No pleasin' some folk."
CHAPTER XXXIII
The Gallop
On the Mare's Back a little group was awaiting the party.
There was Monkey Brand, Albert, and a sheeted horse, patrolling lazily up and down; while Billy Bluff lay on the ground hard by and gnawed his paw.
Ever since, years back, Joses had struck the paw with a stone Billy had bestowed a quite unfair amount of attention on it, spending all his spare time doctoring his favourite. There was nothing whatever the matter with it, but if he continued his attentions long enough there might be some day, and he would then be rewarded for his patient labours by having a real injury to mend.