Pagina 309 di 439

Nevertheless, though he tried to act the philosopher, it cut him

that the high-spirited girl had condemned him. He felt himself in

a false position from which he could not easily extricate

himself. The worst of it was that if it came to a showdown he

could not expect the simple truth to exonerate him.

From where they rode there drifted to him occasionally the sound

of the gay voices of the young people. It struck him for the

first time that he was getting old. Arlie could not be over

eighteen, and Dick perhaps twenty-one. Maybe young people like

that thought a fellow of twenty-seven a Methusaleh.

After a time the thirsty cattle smelt water and hit a bee line so

steadily for it that they needed no watching. Every minute or two

one of the leaders stretched out its neck and let out a bellow

without slackening its pace.