As the horses moved slowly along the dusty trail, Shannon, riding a pace behind the man, watched his profile for signs of pain, that she knew he must be suffering. Once, when he winced, she almost gave a little cry, as if it had been she who was tortured. They were riding very close, and she laid her hand gently upon his right arm, in sympathy.
“ I am so sorry!” she said. “I know it must pain you terribly.”
He turned to her with a smile on his face, now white and drawn.
“ It does hurt a little now,” he said.
“ And you did it to save those two dumb brutes. I think it was magnificent, Custer!”
He looked at her in mild surprise.
“ What was there magnificent about it? It was my duty. My father has always taught me that the ownership of animals entails certain moral obligations wh
