a kid; but later I learned different. I didn't kill
cats and rob nests after that; dogs I got to petting
whenever I'd meet one. I got acquainted with
animals that way. Made the acquaintance from
both angles -- seeing how they acted under torture,
then learning how they acted under kindness.
I know animals, Johnson," he added, quietly.
"And an animal to me is an animal and something
more. A horse, for instance. I see more
in a horse than just an easy way of getting around.
But that ain't you. You're like a man I once
knowed that kept a dog just because the dog was
a good hunter. If I couldn't see more in a dog
than just what he's fit for, I'd quit the sport."

"Now we'll cut for deal."

Jim had been rocking back and forth easily on
two legs of his stool. He now dropped forward
squarely on the floor and nodded assent.

"Cut for deal," he said, quietly. "You!"

The game began. Glover, who evidently found
interest in discussions, but none whatever in a
game of cards, tilted back against the wall and
began to talk, now that the argument was over.

"Zeke tells me," he began in a nasal voice, tamping
the tobacco into the bowl of his pipe reflectively,
"as how they's a bunch o' Injun renegades
movin' south'ards off the reservation on a hell-toot.
I meant to speak of it afore, but forgot, as
usual. Jim's talk here o' animals lovin' each
other that away reminds me." He lifted gray
eyes to Johnson. "Didn't Zeke say nothin' to
you about that, neither?" he asked, evidently

[[179]]

p178 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p179w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p180

v?