These discussions frequently led to argument, sincere on Pete’s part, who never realized that Forbes’s chief delight in life was to get Pete started, that he might enjoy Pete’s picturesque illustration of the point, which, more often than not, was shrewdly sharp and convincing.  No amount of argument, no matter how fortified by theory and example, could make Pete change his attitude toward life; but he eventually came to see life from a different angle, his vision broadening to a wider perspective as they climbed together, Forbes loitering on familiar ground that Pete might not lose the trail and find himself entangled in some unessential thicket by the way.

Forbes was not looking well.  His thin face was pinched; his eyes were listless.  Pete thought that Forbes stayed indoors too much.  “Why don’t you go get a cayuse and ride?” he suggested.

“Never was on a horse in my life.”

“Uh-huh.  Well, you been off one too long.”

“I’d like to.  But I can’t afford it.”

“I don’t mean to buy a horse—­jest hire one, from the livery.  I was thinkin’ of gettin’ out on the dry-spot myself.  I’m plumb sick of town.”

“You would have to teach me.”

“Shucks!  There’s nothin’ to learn.  All you got to do is to fork your cayuse and ride.  I’d sure be glad to go with you.”

“That’s nice of you.  Well, say to-morrow afternoon, then.  But what about horses?”

“We got a session to-morrow.  What’s the matter with this afternoon?  The sun’s shinin’, and there ain’t much wind, and I can smell the ole desert, a-sizzlin’.  Come on!”

They were in Forbes’s room.  The Easterner laid his book aside and glanced down at his shoes.  “I haven’t a riding-costume.”

“Well, you can get one for a dollar and four-bits—­copper-riveted, and sure easy and comfortable.  I’ll lend you a pair of boots.”

“All right.  I’ll try it once, at least.”

Forbes felt rather conspicuous in the stiff new overalls, rolled up at the bottom, over Pete’s tight high-heeled boots, but nobody paid any attention to him as he stumped along beside Pete, on the way to the livery.

Pete chose the horses, and a saddle for Forbes, to whom he gave a few brief pointers anent the art of swinging up and dismounting.  They set out and headed for the open.  Forbes was at first nervous; but as nothing happened, he forgot his nervousness and gave himself to gazing at the great sun-swept spaces until the horses broke into a trot, when he turned his entire attention to the saddle-horn, clinging to it affectionately with his free hand.

Pete pulled up.  “Say, amigo, it’s ag’inst the rules to choke that there horn to death.  Jest let go and clamp your knees.  We’ll lope ’em a spell.”

Forbes was about to protest when Pete’s horse, to which he had apparently done nothing, broke into a lope.  Forbes’s horse followed.  It was a rough experience for the Easterner, but he enjoyed it until Pete pulled up suddenly.  Forbes’s own animal stopped abruptly, but Forbes, grabbing wildly at the horn, continued, and descended in a graceful curve which left him sitting on the sand and blinking up at the astonished animal.