"Land sakes!" cried Aunt Ellen. "What on earth!"
"Bought 'em at auction," replied Uncle Abner briefly, with averted face.
She turned white, for she knew his weakness.
"And the mortgage?" she asked in a whisper.
"I am a fool!" he replied, distinctly and bitterly, as he tied the horse.
Aunt Ellen buried her face in her arms and cried. Gunga Din, laying down his cornstalk, regarded her attentively.
"Whatever on earth are you going to do with them?" she asked, hopelessly, after a while.
"I don't know," replied Uncle Abner, gloomily. "I met the sheriff up the road a spell and he warned me not to turn the elephant loose. Said he'd have the law on me if I did. He must have shelter; the trainer said he just wouldn't stay out in th' open, and that if we didn't put him in the barn, like enough he'd pull off the roof and set it up over hisself. I'm a fool all right enough, Ellen; was born so, but hain't had enough sense to find it out. . . . T'other hoss is dead, Ellen; he broke his leg. It was desperation that drove me to this . . . don't take it so hard, dear. . . .
"I'll turn the mare and the colt into the pasture, and put the ponies in the stalls and Gunga Din in on the granary floor. Tomorrow we'll see what's to be done. Call the boys and let's eat."
The sun set in a bank of clouds and the wind came down from the mountains, making the dry corn rustle in the fields. Uncle Abner lay awake watching the stars, while Gunga Din, perceiving plenty of hay and assuring himself of a firm footing, rumbled in peace as he swayed back and forth.
At two o'clock that night, by the light of a new moon in the western sky, two men rode up within a hundred yards of Wallen's place, each leading a string of four horses. Dismounting, they tied their horses to the fence.
"Remember," said the larger man, "no shooting. Leave the guns with the saddles. Too much to lose. If the old gent or the kids wake, git! They can't take the trail alone, and there's nothin' but sagebrush and moonlight between us and the cañon. Ride here and tie to the string."
