Page:Son of the wind.djvu/50

 brows. "Before I go any further, do you mind if I ask you a question or two?"

"As many as you like. Go ahead."

"I don't know much about horses, very little more about men; I don't know that either have ever mattered much to me, but I wish that I could understand, I wonder if you could make me, why you have come so far, and taken as much trouble to find a single horse as most men take to find a gold mine?"

This time it was Carron who was surprised. "I've gone almost as far, and given almost as much trouble for a good many horses. Why, good Lord, a man has to if he wants to get them!"

"But why want to? There are enough horses in the world!"

"Well—suppose it is the finest horse in the world?"

Rader's high eyebrows went higher in incredulity. "What, with Arabia, and our own thoroughbred stock?"

"Of course, I mean the finest wild horse. That makes all the difference!"

"H'm—yes," Rader agreed. "I can see, there is something in that; but you said you had taken as much trouble in getting other horses!"

Carron knitted his forehead. "I don't know how to explain it—I've always done it. I suppose any-