Let's assay that hollow for horse-hide; it looks promisin'." The hollow was investigated but showed nothing other than cactus and baked alkali.

The corral came next, and there too was emptiness.

For an hour the search was unavailing, but at the end of that time Mr.Cassidy began to notice signs of nervousness on the part of his guest, which grew less as they proceeded.

Then Mr.Cassidy retraced their steps to the place where the nervousness first developed and tried another way and once more returned to the starting point.
"Yu seems to hanker for this fool exercise," quoth Mr.Trayennes with much sarcasm.

"If yu reckons I'm fond of this locoed ramblin' yu shore needs enlightenment." "Sometimes I do get these fits," confessed Mr.Cassidy, "an' when I do I'm dead sore on objections.