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"'Bridge,'" he said, quite suddenly, and apropos of nothing, in an effort to change

the subject. "That's an odd name. I've heard of Bridges and Bridger; but I never

heard Bridge before."

"Just a name a fellow gave me once up on the Yukon," explained Bridge. "I used

to use a few words he'd never heard before, so he called me 'The Unabridged,'

which was too long. The fellows shortened it to 'Bridge' and it stuck. It has always

stuck, and now I haven't any other. I even think of myself, now, as Bridge. Funny,

ain't it?"

"Yes," agreed Billy, and that was the end of it. He never thought of asking his

companion's true name, any more than Bridge would have questioned him as to

his, or of his past. The ethics of the roadside fire and the empty tomato tin do not

countenance such impertinences.

For several days the two continued their leisurely way toward Kansas City. Once

they rode a few miles on a freight train, but for the most part they were content to

plod joyously along the dusty highways. Billy continued to "rustle grub," while

Bridge relieved the monotony by an occasional burst of poetry.

"You know so much of that stuff," said Billy as they were smoking by their camp

fire one evening, "that I'd think you'd be able to make some up yourself."

"I've tried," admitted Bridge; "but there always seems to be something lacking in

my stuff--it don't get under your belt--the divine afflatus is not there. I may start

out all right, but I always end up where I didn't expect to go, and where nobody

wants to be."

'Member any of it?" asked Billy.

There was one I wrote about a lake where I camped once," said Bridge,

reminiscently; "but I can only recall one stanza."

"Let's have it," urged Billy. "I bet it has Knibbs hangin' to the ropes."

Bridge cleared his throat, and recited:

Silver are the ripples, Solemn are the dunes, Happy are the fishes, For they

are full of prunes.

He looked up at Billy, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. "How's

that?" he asked.

Billy scratched his head.

169

The Mucker