as if to show gratitude further, he very solicitously
inquired into the matter, especially with reference
to Felipe's discovery of the horse after all these
years. They were clattering across the mesa now,
having come to it by way of a long detour round
the town, and before replying Felipe gave his
team loose rein.

"Well," he began, as the horses fell back into
a plodding walk, "I haf know about thot couple
weeks before. I haf see thees _caballo_ in town one
mornin', and a girl she is ridin' heem, and everybody
is lookin', and so I'm lookin'." He paused
to roll a cigarette. "And then," he continued,
drawing a deep inhale of smoke, "I haf know
quick lak thot" -- he snapped his fingers sharply
-- "quick lak thot" -- he snapped his fingers again
-- "there's my _potrillo_ grown big lak a house!
And so--"

"But how you knowin' thot's thee horse?"
interrupted the other. "How you knowin' thot
for sure?" Evidently Franke was beginning to
entertain grave doubts concerning this visit to the
corral.

But Felipe only sneered. "How I know thot?"
he asked, disdainfully. "I'm joost tellin' you! I
_know_!?? Thot's enough! A horse is a horse! And
I know thees horse! I know every horse! I got
only to see a horse once -- once only -- and I'm
never forgettin' thot horse! And I'm makin'
no meestake now -- bet you' life!" Nevertheless,
flicked with doubt because of the gravity of the
other, he turned his head and gazed back at the

[[91]]

p090 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p091w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p092

v?