He seemed to realize so that the joke was on himself, and with it all exhibited such reckless indifference to consequences.

Without an instant's hesitation he started toward the horse.
"Great Snakes!" muttered Curly to Bob, "talk about nerve!" The Dean started forward.

"Wait a minute, Mr.Patches," he said.
The stranger faced him.
"Can you ride that horse ?" asked the Dean, pointedly.
"I'm going to," returned Patches.

"But," he added with his droll humor, "I can't say how far." "Don't you know that he'll kill you if he can ?" questioned the Dean curiously, while his eyes twinkled approval.
"He does seem to have some such notion," admitted Patches.
"You better let him alone," said the Dean.

"You don't need to kill yourself to get a job with this outfit." "That's very kind of you, sir," returned the stranger gratefully.