I think he has the best head, as a usual thing; and I follow those orders
exactly so far as I please, and no step more. I am mean and worthless
because I choose to be and not at all because Mayer Zurich led me astray.
Got that, now?"

"If you're quite through," said Dewing, "I'll take that ride."

The door closed behind him.

"Disappointed! Had his mouth fixed for a million or so, and didn't get
it; couldn't stand the gaff; made him ugly," said Zurich slowly. "And
when Dewing is ugly he is unbearable; absolutely the limit."

"Isn't he?" agreed Eric in disgust. "Enough to make a man turn honest."




CHAPTER VI


Stanley Mitchell topped the last rise in Morning Gate Pass in the late
afternoon. Cobre Basin spread deep and wide before him, ruddy in the low
sun; Cobre town and mines, on his left, loomed dim and misshapen in the
long dark shadows of the hills.

Awguan, top horse and foreman of Stanley's mount, swung pitapat down the
winding pass at a brisk fox trot. The gallop, as a road gait, is frowned
upon in the cow countries as immature and wasteful of equine energy.