Chapter 2 ~ Page 30
By the time we had settled down for a second cup of coffee around the campfire, Bernice was feeling so mellow she said we could have bacon with the eggs, come morning. The girls were giggling in their tent. The boys set rocking on their heels, staring at the flames.
"Peaceful," I said.
"Yeah," replied James, "can't even hear the horse's bells. Must all be asleep."
"Probably really tired," BJ yawned, "Bet they couldn't have gone another step today."
The reason we couldn't hear the tinkling of the bells was because by then the horses were three miles back down the trail to Campo, every one of them but The Colonel. Piecing together this act, I figure it must have happened something as this, a sequel to our song and dance:
No-Name: Hey gang, bossman isn't looking. What do you say about cutting out?
Chiquita: Where to, you big hunk of roan?
No-Name: Listen Baby, I know this greatest little pasture
Petite: Your old pasture, I'll bet, you wolf in a horse-hide coat.
No-Name: Right, my little filly.
Petite: Tee hee. Nobody has called me that since I turned smouth-mouthed.
Missy: Let's go. Anything for a giggle. Care to join us Sir Almost?
Almost: Smashing! I think I will my dear.
Traveller: What about these confounded hobbles on our feet?
No-Name: Sissy. They don't slow down a real horse like me.
Skookum: Take me too. I think bossman is nuts.
No-Name: Only if you promise not to steal my mares.
Big & Pokey: Daisy, you can't leave. You are part of the family.
Daisy: Yes I can, you big babies.
Charles: No one goes without me. I have spoken.
N o-Name: Watch our dust big daddy.
Charles: Come back. I demand it. Halt! . . .
The Colonel: (looking up when he realizes he is all alone) Hurmp! Kids.
"Peaceful," I said.
"Yeah," replied James, "can't even hear the horse's bells. Must all be asleep."
"Probably really tired," BJ yawned, "Bet they couldn't have gone another step today."
The reason we couldn't hear the tinkling of the bells was because by then the horses were three miles back down the trail to Campo, every one of them but The Colonel. Piecing together this act, I figure it must have happened something as this, a sequel to our song and dance:
No-Name: Hey gang, bossman isn't looking. What do you say about cutting out?
Chiquita: Where to, you big hunk of roan?
No-Name: Listen Baby, I know this greatest little pasture
Petite: Your old pasture, I'll bet, you wolf in a horse-hide coat.
No-Name: Right, my little filly.
Petite: Tee hee. Nobody has called me that since I turned smouth-mouthed.
Missy: Let's go. Anything for a giggle. Care to join us Sir Almost?
Almost: Smashing! I think I will my dear.
Traveller: What about these confounded hobbles on our feet?
No-Name: Sissy. They don't slow down a real horse like me.
Skookum: Take me too. I think bossman is nuts.
No-Name: Only if you promise not to steal my mares.
Big & Pokey: Daisy, you can't leave. You are part of the family.
Daisy: Yes I can, you big babies.
Charles: No one goes without me. I have spoken.
N o-Name: Watch our dust big daddy.
Charles: Come back. I demand it. Halt! . . .
The Colonel: (looking up when he realizes he is all alone) Hurmp! Kids.
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Text and Photographs © Barry Murray 1971-2007 Mac&Murray Multimedia