mood. Feeling little jealousy of the white, however,
he soon forgot the changed relations, finding
in his own position a new viewpoint upon the
cavalcade which was interesting. For now he
could survey the whole squad, five horses of varied
size and action, and this, as he studied the individual
gait of each, was not without its pleasure.
Also, being, as he was, free from the weight
of a man, he felt an airy lightness that was positively
refreshing. And finally, since he was out of
reach of the nagging white, this blessing alone
made him grateful. So he followed along, working
yet not working, with a feeling of complete composure
such as had not been hid for many a day.
Still his composure did not last. The novelty
wore off toward noon, and he found himself morose
and introspective again. Sounding the depths of
his grievances, he at length took to thinking of
the white corral beside the river. Not in many
a day had he thought of the ranch. But he was
recalling it now, not through affection, not because
it was home to him, but because, brooding over
his many discomforts in the open, he was suddenly
remembering that his life had not always
been this -- that he knew actual comfort, knew
what it was to have his wants gratified. And recalling
these facts, he naturally recalled that which
had made them possible -- the little ranch in the
valley. So he let his thoughts linger there.
Faint and elusive at first, those other days became
finally quite vivid, days of expectancy and
gratification, days of sugar and quartered apples,

[[217]]

p216 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p217w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p218

v?