“I am not sayin’ anythin’ again’ work,” said the yellow horse; “work is the finest thing in the world.” “Seems too fine fer some of us,” Tedda snorted. “I only ask that each horse should work for himself, an’ enjoy the profit of his labours. Let him work intelligently, an’ not as a machine.” “There ain’t no horse that works like a machine,” Marcus began. “There’s no way o’ workin’ that doesn’t mean goin’ to pole er single—they never put me in the Power-machine—er under saddle,” said Rick. “Oh, shucks! We’re talkin’ same ez we graze,” said Nip, “raound an’ raound in circles. Rod, we hain’t heard from you yet, an’ you’ve more know-how than any span here.” Rod, the off-horse of the pair, had been standing with one hip lifted, like a tired cow; and you could only tell by the quick flutter of the haw across his eye, from time to time, that he was paying any attention to the argument. He thrust his jaw out sidewise, as his habit is when he pulls, and changed his leg. His voice was hard and heavy, and his ears were close to his big, plain Hambletonian head. “How old are you?” he said to the yellow horse. “Nigh thirteen, I guess.” “Mean age; ugly age; I’m gettin’ that way myself. How long hev ye been pawin’ this firefanged stable-litter?” “If you mean my principles, I’ve held ’em sence I was three.” “Mean age; ugly age; teeth give heaps o’ trouble then. Set a colt to actin’ crazy fer a while. _You_’ve kep’ it up, seemin’ly. D’ye talk much to your neighbours fer a steady thing?” “I uphold the principles o’ the Cause wherever I am pastured.” “Done a heap o’ good, I guess?” “I am proud to say I have taught a few of my companions the principles o’ freedom an’ liberty.” “Meanin’ they ran away er kicked when they got the chanst?” “I was talkin’ in the abstrac’, an’ not in the concrete. My teachin’s educated them.” “What a horse, specially a young horse, hears in the abstrac’, he’s liable to do in the Concord. You was handled late, I presoom.” “Four, risin’ five.” “That’s where the trouble began. Driv’ by a woman, like ez not—eh?” “Not fer long,” said the yellow horse, with a snap of his teeth. “Spilled her?” “I heerd she never drove again.” “Any childern?” “Buckboards full of ’em.” “Men too?” “I have shed conside’ble men in my time.” “By kickin’?” “Any way that come along. Fallin’ back over the dash is as handy as most.” “They must be turr’ble afraid o’ you daown taown?” “They’ve sent me here to get rid o’ me. I guess they spend their time talkin’ over my campaigns.” “_I_ wanter know!” “Yes, _sir_. Now, all you gentlemen have asked me what I can do. I’ll just show you. See them two fellers lyin’ down by the buggy?” “Yep; one of ’em owns me. T’other broke me,” said Rod. “Get ’em out here in the open, an’ I’ll show you something. Lemme hide back o’ you peoples, so’s they won’t see what I’m at.” “Meanin’ ter kill ’em?” Rod drawled. There was a shudder of horror through the others; but the yellow horse never noticed.