The brute has gone lame, you see.' "Pa waited and scratched his head while these here words sort of sunk in.

Then says very smooth: 'I'll let you take the best hoss I've got, an' I won't ask much cash to boot.' "I begin wonderin' what pa was drivin' at, but I didn't say nothin'-- jest held myself together and waited.
"'Look over there to the corral,' says pa, and pointed.

'They's a hoss that ought to take you wherever you want to go.

It's the best hoss I've ever had.' "It was the best horse pa ever had, too.

It was a piebald pinto called Jo, after my cousin Josiah, who's jest a plain bad un and raises hell when there's any excuse.