CHAPTER IV


SOMETHING YELLOW

The crowd laughed again at the excitement of Morgan, and Silent's
mirth particularly was loud and long.

"An' if you're still bent on charity," he said at last, "maybe we
could find somethin' else to lay a bet on!"

"Anything you name!" said Morgan hotly.

"I suppose," said Silent, "that you're some rider, eh?"

"I c'n get by with most of 'em."

"Yeh--I suppose you never pulled leather in your life?"

"Not any hoss that another man could ride straight up."

"Is that so? Well, partner, you see that roan over there?"

"That tall horse?"

"You got him. You c'n win back that hundred if you stick on his back
two minutes. D'you take it?"

Morgan hesitated a moment. The big roan was footing it nervously here
and there, sometimes throwing up his head suddenly after the manner of