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some proofs〃
〃Proofs！ Did I bring back my lariat？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did I bring back my horse？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you ever see the bull again？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well； then； what more do you want？ I never saw anybody as particular as
you are about a little thing like that。〃
I made up my mind that if this man was not a liar he only missed it by
the skin of his teeth。 This episode reminds me of an incident of my
brief sojourn in Siam； years afterward。 The European citizens of a town
in the neighborhood of Bangkok had a prodigy among them by the name of
Eckert； an Englishmana person famous for the number； ingenuity and
imposing magnitude of his lies。 They were always repeating his most
celebrated falsehoods； and always trying to 〃draw him out〃 before
strangers； but they seldom succeeded。 Twice he was invited to the house
where I was visiting； but nothing could seduce him into a specimen lie。
One day a planter named Bascom； an influential man； and a proud and
sometimes irascible one； invited me to ride over with him and call on
Eckert。 As we jogged along； said he：
〃Now； do you know where the fault lies？ It lies in putting Eckert on his
guard。 The minute the boys go to pumping at Eckert he knows perfectly
well what they are after； and of course he shuts up his shell。 Anybody
might know he would。 But when we get there； we must play him finer than
that。 Let him shape the conversation to suit himselflet him drop it or
change it whenever he wants to。 Let him see that nobody is trying to
draw him out。 Just let him have his own way。 He will soon forget
himself and begin to grind out lies like a mill。 Don't get impatient
just keep quiet； and let me play him。 I will make him lie。 It does seem
to me that the boys must be blind to overlook such an obvious and simple
trick as that。〃
Eckert received us heartilya pleasant…spoken； gentle…mannered creature。
We sat in the veranda an hour； sipping English ale； and talking about the
king； and the sacred white elephant； the Sleeping Idol； and all manner of
things； and I noticed that my comrade never led the conversation himself
or shaped it； but simply followed Eckert's lead； and betrayed no
solicitude and no anxiety about anything。 The effect was shortly
perceptible。 Eckert began to grow communicative； he grew more and more
at his ease； and more and more talkative and sociable。 Another hour
passed in the same way； and then all of a sudden Eckert said：
〃Oh； by the way！ I came near forgetting。 I have got a thing here to
astonish you。 Such a thing as neither you nor any other man ever heard
ofI've got a cat that will eat cocoanut！ Common green cocoanutand
not only eat the meat； but drink the milk。 It is soI'll swear to it。〃
A quick glance from Bascoma glance that I understoodthen：
〃Why； bless my soul； I never heard of such a thing。 Man； it is
impossible。〃
〃I knew you would say it。 I'll fetch the cat。〃
He went in the house。 Bascom said：
〃Therewhat did I tell you？ Now； that is the way to handle Eckert。 You
see； I have petted him along patiently； and put his suspicions to sleep。
I am glad we came。 You tell the boys about it when you go back。 Cat eat
a cocoanutoh； my！ Now； that is just his way； exactlyhe will tell the
absurdest lie； and trust to luck to get out of it again。
Cat eat a cocoanutthe innocent fool！〃
Eckert approached with his cat； sure enough。
Bascom smiled。 Said he：
〃I'll hold the catyou bring a cocoanut。〃
Eckert split one open； and chopped up some pieces。 Bascom smuggled a
wink to me； and proffered a slice of the fruit to puss。 She snatched it；
swallowed it ravenously； and asked for more！
We rode our two miles in silence； and wide apart。 At least I was silent；
though Bascom cuffed his horse and cursed him a good deal；
notwithstanding the horse was behaving well enough。 When I branched off
homeward； Bascom said：
〃Keep the horse till morning。 Andyou need not speak of this
foolishness to the boys。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
In a little while all interest was taken up in stretching our necks and
watching for the 〃pony…rider〃the fleet messenger who sped across the
continent from St。 Joe to Sacramento； carrying letters nineteen hundred
miles in eight days！ Think of that for perishable horse and human flesh
and blood to do！ The pony…rider was usually a little bit of a man；
brimful of spirit and endurance。 No matter what time of the day or night
his watch came on； and no matter whether it was winter or summer；
raining； snowing； hailing； or sleeting； or whether his 〃beat〃 was a level
straight road or a crazy trail over mountain crags and precipices； or
whether it led through peaceful regions or regions that swarmed with
hostile Indians； he must be always ready to leap into the saddle and be
off like the wind！ There was no idling…time for a pony…rider on duty。
He rode fifty miles without stopping； by daylight； moonlight； starlight；
or through the blackness of darknessjust as it happened。 He rode a
splendid horse that was born for a racer and fed and lodged like a
gentleman； kept him at his utmost speed for ten miles； and then； as he
came crashing up to the station where stood two men holding fast a fresh；
impatient steed； the transfer of rider and mail…bag was made in the
twinkling of an eye； and away flew the eager pair and were out of sight
before the spectator could get hardly the ghost of a look。 Both rider
and horse went 〃flying light。〃 The rider's dress was thin； and fitted
close； he wore a 〃round…about；〃 and a skull…cap； and tucked his
pantaloons into his boot…tops like a race…rider。 He carried no armshe
carried nothing that was not absolutely necessary； for even the postage
on his literary freight was worth five dollars a letter。
He got but little frivolous correspondence to carryhis bag had business
letters in it； mostly。 His horse was stripped of all unnecessary weight；
too。 He wore a little wafer of a racing…saddle； and no visible blanket。
He wore light shoes； or none at all。 The little flat mail…pockets
strapped under the rider's thighs would each hold about the bulk of a
child's primer。 They held many and many an important business chapter
and newspaper letter； but these were written on paper as airy and thin as
gold…leaf； nearly； and thus bulk and weight were economized。 The stage…
coach traveled about a hundred to a hundred and twenty…five miles a day
（twenty…four hours）； the pony…rider about two hundred and fifty。 There
were about eighty pony…riders in the saddle all the time； night and day；
stretching in a long； scattering procession from Missouri to California；
forty flying eastward； and forty toward the west； and among them making
four hundred gallant horses earn a stirring livelihood and see a deal of
scenery every single day in the year。
We had had a consuming desire； from the beginning； to see a pony…rider；
but somehow or other all that passed us and all that met us managed to
streak by in the night； and so we heard only a whiz and a hail； and the
swift phantom of the desert was gone before we could get our heads out of
the windows。 But now we were expecting one along every moment； and would
see him in broad daylight。 Presently the driver exclaims：
〃HERE HE COMES！〃
Every neck is stretched further； and every eye strained wider。 Away
across the endless dead level of the prairie a black speck appears
against the sky； and it is plain that it moves。 Well； I should think so！
In a second or two it becomes a horse and rider； rising and falling；
rising and fallingsweeping toward us nearer and nearergrowing more
and more distinct； more and more sharply definednearer and still
nearer； and the flutter of the hoofs comes faintly to the earanother
instant a whoop and a hurrah from our upper deck； a wave of the rider's
hand； but no reply； and man and horse burst past our excited faces； and
go winging away like a belated fragment of a storm！
So sudden is it all； and so like a flash of unreal fancy； that but for
the flake of white foam left quivering and perishing on a mail…sack after
the vision had flashed by and disappeared； we might have doubted whether
we had seen any actual horse and man at