Ellis did so and, with a rough slap of the quirt and a thrust of the spurs, thumbing the horse's withers and fanning its ears with his hat; but all his efforts to make the buckskin hump again were fruitless, and the Sergeant, as he felt the surge of the easy-gaited, powerful animal under him, knew that here was a remount that could be depended on in any emergency.
"What'd I tell yu'?" said Gallagher, as Benton dismounted and off-saddled. "Nary a jump--an' Short an' Dirty, he rode him for three months--an' he says he's good on th' rope an'll stand wherever his lines is dropped. Now yu' take him and ride him as long as yu' want, Sargint.... I guess there ain't nobody else around here as is anxious," he added, grinning. "What's his name? Why, I calls him 'Shakem.' He's sure shook a few of 'em, too. I didn't aim to get yu' hurt none, but some of th' boys had it that yu' used to bust for th' 'Turkey-Track,' an', well, I kinder own I was a bit minded to see if yu' shaped like it," he ended whimsically.
The ghost of a smile for a moment illuminated Benton's blood-stained, tired face as, lighting a cigarette, he retrieved his own boots and prepared to lead his borrowed mount away.
"An' are yu' satisfied?" he queried wearily.
"Aye," answered the rancher, with fervent conviction. "I sure am that. Yes, I'll ride on over an' fix up that black o' yores if yu're away th' night. So long, Sargint."
"Oh, sheriff an' ranger both wished me luck, Yu' bet! when I jumped th' Line last Fall-- Yep!... Kind that a hog gets when he's stuck, For I'd cert'nly made them cattle-men bawl. Them fellers has cause to love me as much As they do a wolf, or a sneakin' Piute; But wouldn't this jar yu'--'gettin' in Dutch' With th' Mounted Police, thru' a mangy coyote?"
After giving the buckskin a light feed of grain and attending to Johnny's hoof carefully, Ellis despatched an early lunch, saddled up Shakem, and struck out for Tucker's ranch, which was about eight miles distant. It was a glorious day and, feeling fully recovered from the effects of his morning's shake-up, he rode slowly on through the golden haze with that ease and contentment that comes to a man who feels that he has earned it, and has sound health and a good horse under him.