20
◈The eyes of Oliphant Larramee missed nothing. And though the cripple was already mounted on the great height of the red stallion, he saw at a glance the stricken look on the face of Holden and the stain of blood on his mouth. So he asked with a smile: “Has everything been as pleasant as you expected, Holden?”
He was surprised when the latter managed to smile back at him, even though the effort was manifest.
“As well as could be expected,” said he. “I came to learn. But I have had to be a tutor.”
“In what, if you please?” asked the rancher.
“Manners,” said Holden, and smiled again.
“You taught at some cost, it seems,” said the rancher, and stared at the bloodstain.
“These small things,” said Holden, “must be endured. Life, it appears, is full of accidents.”
“Very well,” said the
