had there been evidence of kindness now, somewhere
revealed early by this man, Pat might have
drawn the cart as the straining mate at his side
was attempting to draw it. But there was no
evidence of kindness, and as a result he remained
stubborn and wilful, standing braced and trembling,
true in every particular to the spirit of his
forebears.

Nor was Felipe less true to the spirit within
himself. Infuriated, uncompromising, believing
this to be merely the cussedness natural with the
native horses, he abandoned all hope of instant
success and gave way to brutality. Dropping
the reins and reversing the whip in his hands, he
began to beat the horse unmercifully, bringing the
heavy butt down again and again, each mighty
thwack echoing down the canyon. The result was
inevitable. The horse began to kick -- straight
back at first, then, finding his hoofs striking the
cart, he swung sideways to the tongue and kicked
straight out. This last was sudden, and narrowly
missed Felipe, who leaped to one side. Then, unable
to reach the horse with the butt, he reversed
the whip again and resumed his first torture,
that of pitting the legs of the horse with the lash.

"Keeck!" he snarled, continuing to swing the
whip. "Keeck! Keeck! I can keeck, too!" He
swung his arm till it ached, when he stopped.

Whereupon the horse settled down. But his
eyes were ablaze and he was trembling all over.
Also, while undoubtedly suffering added distress
from the taut and binding traces, he continued

[[104]]

p103 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p104w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p105

v?