“Were you afraid of him?” asked the Pike man disdainfully.
“Well, I was,” Joshua admitted. “He was a big man with arms just like flails, and the way he used to pound us was a caution.”
“I’d have shot him in his tracks,” said the Pike man fiercely.
“You’d have got a wallopin’ fust, I reckon,” said Joshua.
“Do you mean to insult me?” demanded the Pike man.
“Oh, lay down, and don’t be so cantankerous,” said Joshua. “You’re allus thinkin’ of bein’ insulted.”
“We may as well be going,” said Joe, who was thoroughly disgusted with their new companion.
“Just as you say, Joe,” said Joshua. “Here, you pesky critter, come and let me mount you.”
The mustang realized Joe’s prediction. After his hearty supper he seemed to be quite tractable and permitted Mr. Bickford to mount him without opposition.
Joe also mounted his horse.