“Beg pardon, but will you tell me why you wound the rope around so many times?”
“Thirteen times,” says Magpie. “Any sheriff knows how. Now, do you want us to elevate the wagon-tongue or do you prefer a limb?”
Ajax’s mouth hangs open for a full minute, and then he seems to catch the point.
“He, he, he! You—you thought perhaps I wanted to make a—er—a swing, I believe they call them. You were spoofing me, I fear. No, I thank you.”
And he wandered away across the hills alone.
“Ike,” says Magpie; “were you spoofing? A swing! My ——!”
We worked for a while but can’t seem to get Ajax out of our minds.
The blamed fool might get lost or bit by a snake. Sidewinders don’t respect education. After a while Magpie says:
“Ike, if it wasn’t for Middleton I’d let the blamed fool sink or swim, survive or perish, but I’d hate to rob Middleton of a chance to hear Ajax tell his experiences. Reckon we better pesticate around a little and see where he went. I’d admire to find out what he’s after.”
“He said it was the effects of—” I began, but Magpie looked at me with his sweet smile and I shut up.