"Do you often do that?" asked Ryan.
"Oh, occasionally. But since I was held up once I don't hanker after it."
"Were you held up?" Ryan seemed much interested.
"Yes," Jack said, but he did not go into details. He had no time.
"I say!" exclaimed Ryan, as Jack was about to ride off again. "It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to have a blacksmith look at that shoe I fixed. I did the best I could, but I can't guarantee that it will stay on. There's a smithy right across the way."
"I believe I will do that," Jack said. "It won't be any joke if Sunger casts a shoe when I get on the mountain trail. I'll take him over to the shop."
The smith was busy, but Jack decided to wait.
"I'll have plenty of time if I don't have to make a night ride," he remarked.
"Say, while you're waiting," suggested Ryan, who had followed Jack over to the blacksmith shop, "why not come and have a bite to eat with me. You wouldn't drink with me, but you can't object to eating."
He seemed so much in earnest about it, and so friendly, that Jack did not like to refuse. After all, Ryan had been very helpful to him, and the matter of drinking Jack could overlook. It was more or less a settled custom in the West, anyhow.