Page:Melville Davisson Post--The Man of Last Resort.djvu/253

Rh darned glad of it, leastways I was darned glad of it that morning old Ward's rotten derrick blowed down, and you chanced along and lifted her off me. I was pinned under them timbers like a rat.”

The man laughed, but his face in the dark was not merry. The driller extended his close inspection to the horse; when he had finished he stepped back in the road and an expression of intense admiration spread itself over his rugged features.

“By jolly!” he said, “you are a pair to draw to.”

The giant patted the withers of the great horse.

“Cardinal is a good colt,” he replied, “good as they grow.”

The driller stood for some moments gazing almost worshipfully at the pair; then he straightened suddenly and coming up close to the horse rested his arms, wet with petroleum, on the pommel of the saddle.

“Alshire,” he said, lowering his voice, “the Company thinks there is grease under your land. I was up to see the manager last night,