than his own! But he did not pause to analyze
this. Instead, he forced himself to greater efforts,
pounding the hardened trail with an energy that
hurt his ankles, stretching neck and legs to their
utmost limit of fiber -- on and on in increased
frenzy. But he could not best this object beside
him. Yet that did not discourage him. He
continued grimly forward, stung to desperation
now by a double purpose, which was to outrun
this thing on his right as well as get away from the
other possible pursuing object. Yet the brown
thing gained upon him -- drew steadily nearer,
steadily closer -- he saw a hand shoot out. He felt
a strong pull on his bridle, a tearing twist on the
bit in his mouth, and found himself thrown out
of his stride. But not even with this would
he accept defeat. He reared in a nervous effort
to shake off the hand. Finding this futile, he
dropped back again, and at last came to a trembling,
panting, nerve-racked pause.

The thing was a horseman. He hurriedly dismounted,
still retaining hold on Pat's bridle, and
smiled up at Helen.

"I -- I tried to overtake you -- to overtake you
before you reached the fence," he began to explain,
pausing between words for breath. "This
horse of yours can -- can claim -- claim anything
on record -- for speed." And he looked Pat over
admiringly.

Helen did not speak at once. In the moment
needed to regain her self-possession she could only
regard him with mute gratitude. She saw that

[[79]]

p078 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p079w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p080

v?