Little Jim blinked up at his father. "Well, he can have half of my grub,
and I reckon I can pack him on the saddle with me if his feet get
tender."

"All right. But don't blame me if Smiler peters out on the trip."

"Smiler's tough, he is!" stated Little Jim. "He's so tough he bites barb
wire. Anyhow, you said we was goin' to take it easy. And he can catch
rabbits, I guess."

"Perhaps he won't want to come along," suggested Big Jim as he pulled up
a cincha and slipped the end through the ring.

Little Jim beckoned to Smiler who had stood solemnly listening to the
controversy about himself as though he understood. Smiler trotted over
to Jimmy.

"You want to take it plumb easy on this trip," said Little Jim, "and not
go to chasin' around and runnin' yourself ragged gettin' nowhere. If you
get sore feet, we'll just have to beef you and hang your hide on the
fence."

Smiler grinned and wagged his tail. He pushed up and suddenly licked
Little Jim's face. Little Jim promptly cuffed him. Smiler came back for
more.

Big Jim turned and watched the boy and the dog in their rough-and-tumble
about the yard. He blinked and turned back to the horses. "Come on,
Jimmy. We're all set."

"Got to throw my pack on ole Lazy, dad. Gimme a hand, will you?"

Little Jim never would admit that he could not do anything there was to
be done. When he was stuck he simply asked his father to help him.

Big Jim slung up the small pack and drew down the hitch. Little Jim
ducked under Lazy and took the rope on the other side, passing the end
to his father.

"Reckon that pack'll ride all right," said the boy, surveying the
outfit. "Got the _morrals_ and everything, dad?"

"All set, Jimmy."

"Then let's go. I got my ole twenty-two loaded. If we run on to one of
them stingin' lizards, he's sure a sconer. Does dogs eat lizards?"

Big Jim swung to the saddle and hazed the old pack-horse ahead. "Don't
know, Jimmy. Sometimes the Indians eat them."

"Eat stingin' lizards?"

"Yep."

"Well, I guess Smiler can, then. Come on, ole-timer!"

Suddenly Little Jim thought of his mother. It seemed that she ought to
be with them. Little Jim had wept when Smiler was in question. Now he
gazed with clear-eyed faith at his father.

"It ain't our fault ma ain't goin' with us, is it?" he queried timidly.

Big Jim shrugged his shoulders.

"Say, dad, we're headed west. Thought you said we was goin' to Arizona?"

"We'll turn south, after a while."