human
See that horse over there, the buckskin? Best horse I ever had! True buckskin! Mark the zebra stripes round his legs, Miss; and the black stripe on his backbone. You can't kill a buck; he's got more lives than a cat. I call the old one Mother; she's good-natured, she is!
gpt
You're a freighter, I see,
human
Sure thing, stranger! Tom Lillywhite and his team is known to every settler in the country! Been here thirty-five year; and always on the move! Never sleep in the same place two nights going! That wagon there, and the grub-box is my home. It's a variegated life!
gpt
You must know everybody in the country!
human
None better!
gpt
Are there many white men at the Crossing?
human
Quite a crowd, said the old man;
gpt
Is that all?
human
Well, there's a sort of another. He doesn't regularly belong to the Crossing but he comes into the store for his goods once or twict a year. I forgot him--most everybody's forgot him now. It's Bert Mabyn.
gpt
I got good cause to know Bert Mabyn, too, continued old Tom innocently; while the other two listened still as mice, and apprehensive of disclosures to be made.
human
But that's all past. I don't bear him no ill-will now. He's a cur'us chap, a little teched I guess; but as pleasant a spoken and amoosin' a feller as another feller could want to have with him on the road! Want to hear about him?
gpt
Yes,