He is not gentle enough
to my liking."
"I care not for gentleness in a horse," declared Walter Skinner. "I
warrant thee I can ride the beast whether he be gentle or not."
"Thou lookest a bold rider," observed the stranger, craftily.
"He that doeth the king's business hath need to be a bold rider,"
returned Walter Skinner, with a look which was intended to convey the
information that he could unfold mysteries were he so disposed.
"Thou art high in the king's counsels, then?" asked the stranger, with
a covert smile.
"Not so high but I shall be higher when I have finished the business in
hand," returned Walter Skinner, patronizingly. The breakfast being now
brought he said no more, but ate like a starving man, and with a very
unfavorable memory of his late meals of wild berries in the swamp. The
crafty-eyed stranger ate more sparingly, and seemed to be mentally
measuring the fierce little man opposite him. At last he asked, "And
whence goest thou from here?"
"What is that to thee?" demanded Walter Skinner. "Wouldst thou pry into
the king's business? Reach me the bottle.
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