"How much do you think it's worth?"
"Fifty dollars a head."
Jake Favors raised both hands in mock horror. "Man! I can't sell mules
for fifty dollars a head!"
"You must be a mighty poor salesman."
"Tell you what. I'll lose money on it but I'll give you twenty five
dollars a head for breaking in a team of six that will work together."
Joe hesitated. Certainly a hundred and fifty dollars more would be a
godsend. It would assure them of enough money no matter what happened,
but it took time to break mules properly. However, it would take less
time if Joe could choose his own mules. He looked at the corral from
which the gray had come.
"That your stock?"
"That's part of it."
"And I pick my own mules?"
"Any you want."
Joe said doubtfully, "I could wagon break six, but somebody else will
have to polish 'em off."