, "One
does not sell a friend."

Oliveri gave what sounded to Drew like an exaggerated sigh. "_Senor_, you
have spoiled my day. How can one look at lesser animals when one has seen
such a treasure? _Don_ Cazar, the Range harbors so many treasures--Oro, and
now this one. How is he named, _senor_?"

"Shiloh."

"Shiloh ..." The _Coronel_ made a sibilant hiss of the word. "An Indio
name?"

"No, a battle." Drew prepared to lead out. "In the war."

"So. And this one is a fighter, too. I think. _Senor_, should you ever
wish to sell, _por favor_, remember one Luis Oliveri! For such a horse as
this--_si_, a man might give a fortune! Ah, to ride into camp before that
puffed-up gamecock of a Merinda on such a horse!" Oliveri closed his eyes
as if better to imagine the triumph.

"Shiloh's not for sale, _Coronel_," Drew replied.

Oliveri shrugged. "Perhaps now, no. But time changes and chance changes,
_senor_. So remember Luis Oliveri will give a fortune--and this is the
truth, _senor_!"

"Hunt!" Drew was forced to halt as Johnny Shannon stood straight ahead of
him in the stable entrance. "Teodoro Trinfan's come in with some news you
oughta hear."

"So? Well. I'm coming. _Coronel_, Johnny can show you the stock we have
ready. I will be back as soon as I can."

"Still I say"--Oliveri shook his head as Rennie pushed past Drew and Shiloh
and went out--"that after seeing this one, all others will be as pale
shadows of nothingness. But since I must have horses, _Senor_ Shannon, I
will look at horses. _Buenos dias, senor._" He raised a hand to Drew and
the Kentuckian nodded.

But Shannon still stood in the doorway, and short of walking straight into
him there was no way for Drew to leave. Johnny was smiling a little--just
as he had back in Tubacca in Topham's office before the race.

"Seems like you've got you a four-legged gold mine there, Kirby," he said.
"Better keep your eyes peeled--gold claims have been jumped before in this
country. Kitchell'd give a lot to git a hoss like that to run south."

"He'd have to," Drew said grimly. "In lead--if he wanted it that way."

"Kinda sure of that, ain't you?" The smile had not cracked, nor had it
reached those shuttered blue eyes. Why did everyone say Johnny Shannon was
a boy? Inside he was older than most of the men Drew had known--as old and
cold as the desert rocks in nighttime. Again the Kentuckian was teased by
a scrap of memory. Once before he had seen old eyes in a boy's