It was dangerous
in that country to play fast and loose with horses.
"Look a-hyar, mates," said the stranger, with a Yankee drawl, "I ain't
no hoss thief, and if I hain't bought this hoss reg'lar and paid down
good money then it ain't mine--if I have it is. That's fair, ain't it?"
At this Hi pulled himself together, and in a half-drunken tone declared
that the stranger was all right, and that he had bought the horse fair
and square, and "there's your dust," said Hi, handing a roll to Bill.
But with a quick movement Bill caught the stranger by the leg, and,
before a word could be said, he was lying flat on the ground.
"You git off that pony," said Bill, "till this thing is settled."
There was something so terrible in Bill's manner that the man contented
himself with blustering and swearing, while Bill, turning to Hi, said:
"Did you sell this pinto to him?"
Hi was able to acknowledge that, being offered a good price, and knowing
that his partner was always ready for a deal, he had transferred the
pinto to the stranger for forty dollars.
Bill was in distress, deep and poignant. "'Taint the horse, but the
leetle gel," he explained; but his partner's bargain was his, and
wrathful as he was, he refused to attempt to break the bargain.
At this moment the Hon.
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