For an instant only Abner hesitated. He did long to give the lawyer something that was coming to him. But he knew that Zeb was right, and he followed him to the door. He couldn’t refrain, however, from giving a parting shot ere he left.
"Don’t fergit, Rackshaw," he reminded, "that country rats are not to be fooled with, no matter whether they walk on four legs or two. Keep ye’r city rats where they belong, and let them mind their own bizn’ess, an’ ye’ll have no trouble with country rats."
"Fer heaven’s sake, hold ye’r tongue, an’ come along," Zeb ordered. "I’m sick an’ tired of all this confounded fuss."
"But would ye put up with sass from a thing like that?" Abner asked. "I wish I had punched his head."
"You ought to know as well as I do. What kin you do aginst a lawyer? He’ll make it hot fer you as it is. I don’t know what’s comin’ over ye, Abner. I always knew that you were a queer critter, but I thought ye had some brains left."
For a wonder Abner made no reply, but walked along silently until the station house was reached. It was locked, and Sam was nowhere to be found. Upon enquiry from a man who was standing upon the platform, they learned that the agent had gone to a party out in the country, and had taken Jerry with him.
"Confound that feller!" Abner growled. "What right has he to run off with my hoss, I’d like to know?"
"He looked after him, though, when you were in the pen, didn’t he?" Zeb queried.
"Sure, sure he did, an’ I s’pose I must fergive him."
"Now you’re beginnin’ to talk like a reasonable man, Abner. It’s the first sensible thing I’ve heard ye say to-night. But we’ve got to git home, so I guess there’s nothin’ else to do but to foot it. What de ye say?"
They made their way through the town, and when they were at last out into the country, they filled and lighted their pipes as they trudged along. So far little had been said, but the soothing effect of the tobacco seemed to make them more communicable, and they discussed the affairs of the evening. Abner was unusually fierce in his denunciation of everything in general. He believed that he had been unjustly treated, and he longed for suitable retaliation. Zeb listened to him for some time without arguing. He knew that Abner must unburden his soul before he could feel better. At length, however, he stopped and laid his hand upon his companion’s sleeve.