CHAPTER XVII
AN INVITATION DECLINED
Jack's first idea was that he could soon and easily remove from between thehoof and shoe the small stone that was making his pony lame. But when hegot to work at it, with a peculiarly shaped hook, such as is used for thatpurpose, the lad found the work was going to take longer than he hadanticipated.
"But it's got to be done, old boy," he said, addressing the little horse."It's got to be done, and I've got to do it. I can't very well walk you tothe blacksmith shop back in town, for you'd be lamer than ever, and I'dprobably have to stable you; and I can't leave you with the mail and go andget the smith to come out here. So I've got to do the work myself. I'll bea little late with the mail, but it can't be helped."
Jack realized that he would have a good excuse to offer for not gettingback to Rainbow Ridge on time, as he had had to go out of his usual routeto bring in the mail to Golden Crossing, which was still some miles away.
"They can't expect me to do two men's work in the time of one, andespecially when my pony goes lame," Jack murmured, as he worked over thestone, which persisted in staying where it had become wedged.
"Well, old boy, I don't seem to be coming along very fast," Jack went on,as he sat down to rest, for the day was hot, and, in spite of being in theshade, he felt the heat very much.
"I don't want to loosen your shoe too much, or it will come off, and thenI'd be in a worse pickle than ever," he continued, talking aloud, as hefrequently did when on the trail. "And yet if I don't, I can't see how I'mgoing to get at that stone. Well, we'll have another try in a minute."
Sunger did not seem to mind the rest. He began quietly cropping grass bythe wayside when Jack let down the hoof in which the stone was imbedded. Aslong as the pony rested no weight on that foot he was all right. It waswhen he walked or galloped with Jack and the sacks of mail on his back,bringing pressure to bear, that the lameness was noticeable.
Again the young express rider busied himself with the task. He shook hishead over the work, for it seemed more and more impossible to get the stoneout without taking off the shoe, and that would mean going back to theblacksmith's shop to have it nailed on again.
"Regular nuisance, having this happen," said Jack. "But of course I know itisn't your fault, Sunger."
The sound of hoof-beats on the trail caused Jack to look up as he wasbending over the shoe. He saw riding toward him a stranger. The latter drewup his horse, nodded in friendly fashion, and remarked:
"You seem to be having some trouble there."
"Yes," Jack admitted. "Pony's gone lame. Got a stone under his shoe, and Idon't seem to get it out."
"A bad thing in your business, I should judge," the man went on. "Ponyexpress rider, aren't you?"
That could be told by a glance at the mail sacks.
"Yes," Jack answered, for the man seemed anxious to be friendly. "I ridebetween Golden Crossing and Rainbow Ridge."
"Sort of out of your way here, aren't you?"
"Yes. I had to ride out to get the mail. Stage broke down again. I'm goingin to Golden Crossing now, and then on to the Ridge. That is, I am if I canget this stone out."
"Say, if you don't mind, let me have a chance at it," suggested the man,getting off his horse with an ease that showed he was accustomed to thesaddle. "I used to know something about smithy work, and I've got a betterhook than the one you're using."
"Well, if you don't mind, I wish you would have a try," said Jack,straightening up his bent and aching back. "It seems to have gotten thebest of me."
The stranger patted Sunger, who sniffed at him and seemed satisfied. Thepony rubbed his velvet nose against the man's coat. This was his way ofmaking friends. Sunger did not do this with every one, either, and Jackfelt more interest in the newcomer on that account.
"Now, let's see what we have here," the man went on, as he lifted thepony's lame foot. "Oh, my name's Ryan," he added, as an afterthought.
"And mine's Jack Bailey," said our hero, completing the introduction.
"Glad to meet you. I'm riding your way, and I'll go on with you after I getyou fixed up, or, rather, your pony.
"Think you can do it?" Jack asked.
"Oh yes, I'll soon have this out. You almost had it yourself, but you wereworking at it the wrong way."
He proved that he knew what he was talking about a few minutes later, byexclaiming:
"There it is!"
He held up the stone that had caused all the trouble. It was of peculiarshape, which accounted for the manner in which it had become wedged fast.
"Thanks!" Jack exclaimed. "Now the question is about the shoe. Is it soloose that I can't go on?"
"It is a bit loose," the man said. "But I can fix that for you. I carry aspare shoe or two myself. They wouldn't fit your pony, for they are toolarge. But I've got a hammer and nails in my saddle bags. I ride about agood bit, and my nag often casts a shoe, so I go prepared. I'll have thisone tightened up in a jiffy."
Jack watched Ryan interestedly. The man seemed very capable, and it isoften the custom of cowboys or range riders to carry with them spare shoes,nails and a hammer, to reset a shoe of their mounts when far from ablacksmith shop.
In a few minutes the shoe was as tight as necessary, and Jack could againmount his pony and ride on.
"I'm a thousand times obliged to you," he said to Ryan. "It was quite ajob, wasn't it?"
"Well, yes. Not so hard as some I've tackled, though. But it's a warm day,and I think after that we're entitled to a little refreshment. What do yousay?"
For a moment Jack did not understand.
"Refreshment," he repeated. "There's no place around here where you can getanything to eat. No places short of going back to Tuckerton. And I'm nothungry enough for that."
"Hungry? Shucks, no! I'm not myself. I wasn't talking about anything toeat. I meant something to drink."
"Oh," said Jack, and a queer sort of feeling came over him. "Well, there'sno ice cream soda place around here, either," and he smiled.
"Ice cream soda? Shucks! I'm talking about a man's drink! And I don't needany one to wait on me, either. I carry it with me. It's safer in case ofemergency," and he laughed in what he evidently meant to be taken as afriendly fashion.
"Here, have a smile with me," he went on, producing a pocket flask. "It'sstuff I can recommend," he added. "It'll do you good after working overthat shoe. Come on, help yourself, and then I'll take what you leave,though there's plenty in that bottle, and more where that came from."
He held out a dark flask to Jack.
Jack backed away and shook his head.
"No, thank you," he said, firmly.
"What!" the man exclaimed in seeming surprise. "You don't drink?"
"No," Jack replied. "It wouldn't do in my business, you know. Besides, Iwouldn't drink anyhow."
"Oh, shucks! Just one wouldn't hurt you, and there's no one to know. Yourboss won't find it out, for I won't tell. After going through what you haveyou need a drink."
"Perhaps I do," said Jack with a smile, wiping the perspiration from hisforehead, "but I don't want that kind of a drink. There's a spring just afew steps on, and it's the coldest and best water for miles around. I'mgoing to have some of that, and give the pony some, too. Your horse wouldappreciate it, I think."
"Humph! Water may be all right for horses, but I don't care for it," wasthe somewhat sneering answer. "Then you won't drink with me, Jack Bailey?"
"No, thank you. I'll join you in a tin dipper of spring water, but that'sall."
"Well, if you won't you won't, I suppose," the man said, slowly. "Everybodyto their notion. I don't take much, but I like a little now and then. Sohere goes."
Jack did not stay to see what the man did, but walked on to the spring withSunger. The pony showed no trace of lameness, now, for which Jack was glad,as he had a hard ride ahead of him.
As the lad was getting himself a drink, and letting Sunger get some from apool below the spring, Jack heard the sound of a galloping horse, a
ndlooked up in surprise.