“Maybe it does,” Jim agreed, thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s good to be fool-headed once in a while. The fool’s generally a happy man.” Then his eyes looked away in the direction of Peter’s cutting. “And happiness, like Peter’s gold, takes a heap of finding,” he continued a moment later. “Guess the wiser you are the harder things hit you. And as you grow older it’s so easy to be wise, and so hard to be fool-headed. That bluff we’re riding to. Maybe it’s foolish me riding to it. That’s what you’re thinking––because you’re wise. It makes me glad I’m fool-headed.”
The doctor unnecessarily slashed the horses with his whip. But he was careful not to increase the pace.
Jim went on after a moment’s pause, while he watched the hawk-like mould of his companion’s profile.
“Peter’s a good friend,” he said. “Last night, if I’d said the word, he’d have fought for me. He’d have fought for me till the boys shot him down in his tracks. And he’d have thought no more of giving his life for me than––than 387 Smallbones would think of taking mine. And some of the gold he’s looking for would––have come his way.”
The doctor looked round sharply. He began to wonder if Jim were getting light-headed.
“You’re talkin’ foolish,” he said.
But the other shook his head.
“You see, I don’t guess you know Peter as I do––now. I didn’t quite know him––before. I do now. Life’s so mighty full of––well, the things we don’t want, that it’s well to get out and look for something that don’t seem to be lying around. And every time you find one of those things, it seems to set the things life wants you to have farther and farther away. That’s what Peter’s doing.” He smiled ever so gently. “He’s looking for what he calls gold. Guess I’ll find some of Peter’s gold––in yonder bluff.”
The doctor’s eyes were staring out at their destination. He had no answer. He caught something of Jim’s meaning, but his hard mind had not the proper power of assimilation.
“If that bluff was a thousand miles off, Doc, I still shouldn’t have anything in my fool-head to tell. Seems to me a bit chilly. Couldn’t we drive faster?”