what the fire had destroyed. It was a loss, yet
only a small part of vast Penetier. If only my friends had gotten out
alive!

Herky was as relentless in his travelling as I had found him in some
other ways. He kept his pony at a trot. The trail was open, we made
fast time, and when the sun had begun to cast a shadow before us we were
going down-hill. Busy with the thought of my friends, I scarcely noted
the passing of time. It was a surprise to me when we rode down the last
little foot-hill, out into the scattered pines, and saw Holston only a
few miles across the sage-flat.

"Wal, kid, we've come to the partin' of the ways," said Herky, with a
strange smile on his smug face.

"Herky, won't you ride in with me?"

"Naw, I reckon it'd not be healthy fer me."

"But you haven't even a saddle or blanket or any grub."

"I've a friend across hyar a ways, a rancher, an' he'll fix me up. But,
kid, I'd like to hev thet hoss. He was Buell's, an' Buell owed me money.
Now I calkilate you can't take Target back East with you, an' you might
as well let me have him."

"Sure, Herky." I jumped off at once, led the horse over, and held
out the bridle. Herky dismounted, and began fumbling with the stirrup
straps.

"Your legs are longer'n mine," he explained.

"Oh yes, Herky, I almost forgot to return your hat," I said, removing
the wide sombrero. It had a wonderful band made of horsehair and a
buckle of silver with a strange device.

"Wal, you keep the hat," he replied, with his back turned. "Greaser
stole your hoss an' your outfit's lost, an' you might want somethin'
to remember your--your friends in Arizony.... Thet hat ain't much, but,
say, the buckle was an Injun's I shot, an' I made the band when I was in
jail in Yuma."

"Thank you, Herky. I'll keep it, though I'd never need anything to make
me remember Arizona--or you."

Herky swung his bow-legs over Target and I got astride the lean-backed
pony. There did not seem to be any more to say, yet we both lingered.

"Good-bye, Herky, I'm glad I met you," I said, offering my hand.

He gave it a squeeze that nearly crushed my fingers. His keen little
eyes gleamed, but he turned away without another word, and, slapping
Target on the flank, rode off under the trees.

I put the hat back on my head and watched Herky for a moment. His
silence and abrupt manner were unlike him, but what struck me most was
the fact that in our last talk every word had been clean and sincere.
So