e eventually came
to see life from a different angle, his vision broadening to a wider
perspective as they climbed together, Forbes loitering on familiar
ground that Pete might not lose the trail and find himself entangled in
some unessential thicket by the way.

Forbes was not looking well. His thin face was pinched; his eyes were
listless. Pete thought that Forbes stayed indoors too much. "Why
don't you go get a cayuse and ride?" he suggested.

"Never was on a horse in my life."

"Uh-huh. Well, you been off one too long."

"I'd like to. But I can't afford it."

"I don't mean to buy a horse--jest hire one, from the livery. I was
thinkin' of gettin' out on the dry-spot myself. I'm plumb sick of
town."

"You would have to teach me."

"Shucks! There's nothin' to learn. All you got to do is to fork your
cayuse and ride. I'd sure be glad to go with you."

"That's nice of you. Well, say to-morrow afternoon, then. But what
about horses?"

"We got a session to-morrow. What's the matter with this afternoon?
The sun's shinin', and there ain't much wind, and I can smell the ole
desert, a-sizzlin'. Come on!"

They were in Forbes's room. The Easterner laid his book aside and
glanced down at his shoes. "I haven't a riding-costume."

"Well, you can get one for a dollar and four-bits--copper-riveted, and
sure easy and comfortable. I'll lend you a pair of boots."

"All right. I'll try it once, at least."

Forbes felt rather conspicuous in the stiff new overalls, rolled up at
the bottom, over Pete's tight high-heeled boots, but nobody paid any
attention to him as he stumped along beside Pete, on the way to the
livery.

Pete chose the horses, and a saddle for Forbes, to whom he gave a few
brief pointers anent the art of swinging up and dismounting. They set
out and headed for the open. Forbes was at first nervous; but as
nothing happened, he forgot his nervousness and gave himself to gazing
at the great sun-swept spaces until the horses broke into a trot, when
he turned his entire attention to the saddle-horn, clinging to it
affectionately with his free hand.

Pete pulled up. "Say, amigo, it's ag'inst the rules to choke that
there horn to death. Jest let go and clamp your knees. We'll lope 'em
a spell."

Forbes was about to protest when Pete's horse, to which he had
apparently done nothing, broke into a lope. Forbes's horse followed.
It was a rough experience for the Easterner, but he enjoy