Page:Edward Ellis--Alden the Pony Express Rider.djvu/57

 yards ahead, when the youth twitched the rein of Firebug and galloped up beside him.

“Good morning, Shagbark; it looks as if we shall have another fine day.”

The guide puffed his pipe without answering or so much as glancing at the young man. Alden said a few more things, but he might as well have addressed a boulder, for all the notice they received from the guide. Mortified and resentful, the lad checked his mare and held her until joined by Jethro and the others.

“He’s the queerest man I ever saw,” he said to the African; “I can’t get a word out of him.”

“Ob course not; I found dat out de fust day, when I axed him how old he was, what war de name oh his fader and mother, wheder he was married or engaged and who he war gwine to wote fur as President, and some more sich trifles.”

“I don’t wonder that he paid no attention to you. I shall let him alone after this.”

Three nights later, however, Shagbark was overtaken again by one of his genial moods, and won the good opinion of all by his jollity.