Now he collected a ride for his pay.

He had reasoned that William was probably subdued to the point of permitting the liberty, and that he had other things to think of more important than protecting his mulish dignity.
Casey guessed right.

William merely switched his tail pettishly, as mules will, and went on picking his way through brush and rocks along the ridge.
It was perhaps nine o'clock when Casey saw the light.

William also spied it and stopped still, his long left ear pointed that way, his broken right ear dropping over his eye.

William lifted his nose and brayed as if he were tearing loose all his vitals and the operation hurt like the mischief.