him, and the mare naturally would take her colt;
and because he had come to know the value of the
colt, Felipe wished to appear as prosperous in the
eyes of the Americans in town as he believed the
owner of so fine a colt ought to appear.

Therefore, still careful of his overalls, he set
about leisurely to prepare the team for the journey.
He crossed to the shed, hauled out the harness,
tossed it out into the inclosure. Promptly
both horses stepped into position. Also, the older
mare, whether through relief or regret, sounded a
shrill nicker. This brought the colt to her side,
where he fell to licking her affectionately, showing
his great love for her bony frame. And when
Felipe led the horses out of the corral he followed
close beside her, and when outside held close to her
throughout the hitching, and to the point even
when Felipe clambered to the top of the high load
and caught up the reins and the whip. Then he
stepped back, wriggling his fuzzy little tail and
blinking his big eyes curiously.

"Well, _potrillo_," began Felipe, grinning down
upon the tiny specimen of life, "we goin' now to
town! But first you must be ready! You ready?
All right! We go now!" And he cracked the
whip over the team.

They started forward, slowly at first, the wagon
giving off many creaks and groans, then fast and
faster, until, well in the descent of the hard canyon
trail, the horses were jogging along quite
briskly.

The colt showed the keenest interest and delight.

[[28]]

p027 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p028w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p029

v?