“I wouldn’t,” states Half Mile. “No use letting everybody in on it, Tellurium. If they don’t know about it we hadn’t ought to lessen our chances by telling.”
We thanks ’em heartily for the information, and they rides away. Magpie gets out his dictionary and ponders deep like over it, but shakes his head.
“It ain’t in the book, Ike. Must be uh foreign substance.”
The next day comes old Judge Steele and Ricky Henderson. They salutes us, and gets off to rest their saddles.
“How’s law and justice, Judge?” asks Magpie. “You fellers hunting for uh railami?”
“Huh!” snorts the judge, like he didn’t hear, and glances at Ricky.
“Railami,” repeats Magpie.
“Why—uh—you seen any?” asks the judge.
“I’ve quit drinking, Judge,” says Magpie. “I’m sure I’d uh seen one next, and I tapers off just in time.”
“Well, well!” exclaims the judge. “Ricky, I reckon me and you had better be going on. We’re looking for uh couple uh strays. Two red cows. Seen anything of ’em up here, Magpie?”