Chapter 80

           ItwassometimebeforeZebStumpsalliedforthfromthecovertwherehehadbeenwitnesstothe"horseswop."Nottillboththebargainershadriddenentirelyoutofsight.Thenhewentnotaftereither;butstayeduponthespot,asifundecidedwhichheshouldfollow.

           Itwasnotexactlythisthatkepthimtotheplace;butthenecessityoftakingwhathewasinthehabitofcallinga"goodthink."

           Histhoughtswereabouttheexchangeofthehorses:forhehadheardthewholedialoguerelatingthereto,andtheproposalcomingfromCalhoun.Itwasthisthatpuzzled,orrathergavehimreasonforreflection.Whatcouldbethemotive?

           ZebknewtobetruewhattheMexicanhadsaid:thattheStateshorsewas,inmarketvalue,worthfarmorethanthemustang.Heknew,moreover,thatCassiusCalhounwasthelastmantobe"coped"inahorsetrade.Why,then,hadhedonethe"deal?"

           Theoldhunterpulledoffhisfelthat;gavehishandatwistortwothroughhisunkempthair;transferredthecaresstothegrizzledbearduponhischin—allthewhilegazingupontheground,asiftheanswertohismentalinterrogatorywastospringoutofthegrass.

           "Thurairbutoneexplicationo’t,"heatlengthmuttered:"thegrey’sthefastercrittero’thetwo—ne’eradoubt’beoutthet;anMisterCashwantshimforhisfastness:elsewhythedurnationshedheaginahossthet’udsellforfouro’hissortinanyparto’Texas,antwicetthetnumberinMexiko?Ireck’nhe’sbargainedfortheheels.Why?Durnme,efIdon’tsuspectwhy.