" he said. "Pass Possum up and climb in, an'
I'll show you the Double H Outfit, which is some outfit, I'm tellin'
you."

Saxon's delight was unbounded and almost speechless as they drove out
into the country behind the dappled chestnuts with the cream-colored
tails and manes. The seat was upholstered, high-backed, and comfortable;
and Billy raved about the wonders of the efficient brake. He trotted the
team along the hard county road to show the standard-going in them, and
put them up a steep earthroad, almost hub-deep with mud, to prove that
the light Belgian sire was not wanting in their make-up.

When Saxon at last lapsed into complete silence, he studied her
anxiously, with quick sidelong glances. She sighed and asked:

"When do you think we'll be able to start?"

"Maybe in two weeks... or, maybe in two or three months." He sighed with
solemn deliberation. "We're like the Irishman with the trunk an' nothin'
to put in it. Here's the wagon, here's the horses, an' nothin' to pull.
I know a peach of a shotgun I can get, second-hand, eighteen dollars;
but look at the bills we owe. Then there's a new '22 Automatic rifle I
want for you. An' a 30-30 I've had my eye on for deer. An' you want a
good jointed pole as well as me. An' tackle costs like Sam Hill. An'
harness like I want will cost fifty bucks cold. An' the wagon ought to
be painted. Then there's pasture ropes, an' nose-bags, an' a harness
punch, an' all such things. An' Hazel an' Hattie eatin' their heads off
all the time we're waitin'. An' I 'm just itchin' to be started myself."

He stopped abruptly and confusedly.

"Now, Billy, what have you got up your sleeve?--I can see it in your
eyes," Saxon demanded and indicted in mixed metaphors.

"Well, Saxon, you see, it's like this. Sandow ain't satisfied. He's
madder 'n a hatter. Never got one punch at me. Never had a chance to
make a showin', an' he wants a return match. He's blattin' around town
that he can lick me with one hand tied behind 'm, an' all that kind of
hot air. Which ain't the point. The point is, the fight-fans is wild
to see a return-match. They didn't get a run for their money last time.
They'll fill the house. The managers has seen me already. That was why
I was so long. They's three hundred more waitin' on the tree for me to
pick two weeks from last night if you'll say the word. It's just the
same as I told you before. He's my meat. He still thinks I 'm a rube,
an' that it was a fluke punch.