"Yes, sir."
There was a droll demureness in the way Hickory said this which made Mr. Orcutt pause. But in another minute he went on.
"And what pace do you take when you are tired?"
"A horse's pace when I can get it," was the laughing reply. "A team was going by, sir, and I just jumped up with the driver."
"Ah, you rode, then, part of the way? Was it a fast team, Mr. Hickory?"
"Well, it wasn't one of Bonner's."
"Did they go faster than a man could run?"
"Yes, sir, I am obliged to say they did."
"And how long did you ride behind them?"
"Till I got in sight of the station."