Chapter II

Felipe Celebrates

It was well along in the morning when Felipe
pulled up next day before his little adobe house
in the mountain settlement. The journey from
the mesa below had been, perforce, slow. The mare
was still pitiably weak, and her condition had
necessitated many stops, each of long duration.
Also, on the way up the canyon the colt had displayed
frequent signs of exhaustion, though only
with the pauses did he attempt rest.

But it was all over now. They were safely before
the house, with the colt lying a little apart
from his mother -- regarding her with curious
intentness -- and with Felipe bustling about the
team and now and again bursting out in song of
questionable melody and rhythm. Felipe was
preparing the horses for the corral at the rear of
the house, and soon he flung aside the harness
and seized each of the horses by the bridle.

"Well, you li'l' devil!" he exclaimed, addressing
the reclining colt. "You coom along now! You
live in thees place back here! You coom wit' me
now!" And he started around a corner of the
adobe.

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