Chapter XVI

Pat Turns Thief

A week passed before Pat knew of his change
in masters. But that was' not strange.
Busily engaged in keeping himself alive on scant
herbage, he took but little interest in anything
else. Besides, his young friend continued to
make much of him, talking in soothing tones and
gently stroking his sides, and the little gray, holding
herself faithfully near, also maintained quiet
evidence of friendliness. So he had no reason to
suspect change. But one morning, with camp
broken, and saddle-bags flung out, and the window
sealed over, and the door shut and barred, and
the other horses bridled and saddled, there came
to him in the person of the large man himself -- a
person he had instinctively disliked -- the first
sign of the change in his fortune.

The man approached, bridle on arm, to remove
his hobbles. He remained motionless under thisy
and prepared also to accept the bridle quietly.
But in bridling him the man was rough to an extent
he had never before known -- forcing an oddly
shaped bit against his tongue, and twisting and
turning his sensitive ears as if these delicate

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v?