"Those Who Ride Straight" 



seemed to strengthen one without doing him any 

 harm. 



But in the beginning the men hked him for his 

 perfect seat on a horse and the way he took his 

 Uquor, and the women worshipped his British, 

 blond, good looks and his smile, which didn't 

 flirt, but could. 



He had served over half the civilized world 

 before he caught his fever on the "West Coast" 

 and had to leave the army. That was how he 

 happened to come among us, the fever, and the 

 fact that some American cousins hunted with our 

 pack. 



It was a curious thing, this fever. At the 

 most unexpected times, just when he seemed at 

 his best, it would strike him and roll him out like 

 a baby, though he stood six feet two in his stock- 

 ing feet, and weighed in at one hundred and 

 eighty-two. 



"Just thirteen stone, y'know, and it takes a 

 bit of flesh to carry me. " 



I can hear him say it now, in his lazy drawl, 

 clicking the stem of his pipe against his even white 

 teeth. 



Poor Trotter! Still I don't know why I should 

 say poor Trotter. He got more out of life than 

 most of us; that is, he — 



But I'd better get on with the story. 

 149 



