attention.

"Now what? Some more of the same. Lights out! Protect yourself!" he
thought, taking off the saddle. Aloud he said:

"One of Zurich's ranches, isn't it? I saw ZK burned on the gateposts."

He passed his hand along Midnight's sweaty back for possible bruise or
scald; he unfolded the Navajo saddle blanket and spread it over the
saddle to dry. He took the _sudaderos_--the jute sweatcloths under the
Navajo--and draped them over a huge near-by boulder in the sun, carefully
smoothing them out to prevent wrinkles; to all appearance without any
other care on earth.

"Yes; horse camp," said the tall man. "Now you water the black horse and
I'll dig up a bait of corn for him. Wash up at the trough."

"_Puesto que si!_" said Pete.

He slipped the bit out of Midnight's mouth, pushing the headstall back on
the sleek black neck by way of lead rope, and they strode away to the
water pen, side by side.

When they came back a nose-bag, full of corn, stood ready near the fire.
Pete hung this on Midnight's head. Midnight munched contentedly, with
half-closed eyes, and Pete turned to the fire.

"Was I kidding myself?" he inquired. "Or did somebody mention the name of
grub?"