away with by his yap. You're too young an' too nervous."

"I'll - I'll have nervous prostration sure ef there's a fight here,"
said Tuck, who saw what was in Rod's eye; "I'm - I'm that sympathetic
I'd run away clear to next caounty."

"Yep; I know that kind o' sympathy. Jest lasts long enough to start
a fuss, an' then lights aout to make new trouble. I hain't been
ten years in harness fer nuthin'. Naow, we're goin' to keep school
with Boney fer a spell."

"Say, look a-here, you ain't goin' to hurt me, are you? Remember,
I belong to a man in town," cried the yellow horse, uneasily.
Muldoon kept behind him so that he could not run away.

"I know it. There must be some pore delooded fool in this State
hez a right to the loose end o' your hitchin'-strap. I'm blame
sorry fer him, but he shall hev his rights when we're through with
you," said Rod.

If it's all the same, gentlemen, I'd ruther change pasture. Guess
I'll do it now."

"'Can't always have your 'druthers. 'Guess you won't," said Rod.

"But look a-here. All of you ain't so blame unfriendly to a
stranger. S'pose we count noses."

"What in Vermont fer?" said Rod, putting up his eyebrows. The
idea of settling a question by counting noses is the very last