After which Helen playfully seized his ears and
shook his head.

"You're a perfect dear!" she exclaimed. "And
I love you! But I'm afraid we -- we can't ride
mornings any more -- not for a while, at any rate."
With this she left him.

He followed her to the gate, and with reluctance
saw her enter the house. Then he rested his head
upon the topmost board and, though he hardly
expected it, waited for her return. Finally he
abandoned his vigil, making his way slowly into
the stable. He found both horses in their stalls,
restlessly whisking their tails, offering nothing of
friendliness or invitation. Also he awoke to the
depressing atmosphere here, and after a time returned
to the corral, where he took up a stand in
his favorite corner and closed his eyes. Soon he
was dreaming.

Sound as from a great distance awoke him. He
opened his eyes. Outside the fence, and regarding
him gloatingly, were two swarthy Mexicans
in conversation. This was what had awakened
him.

"Bet you' life!" one was saying, the taller man
of the two. "Thot's my li'l' horse grown big lak
a house -- and a-fine! Franke, we gettin' thot
_caballo_ quick. We--"

A door had closed somewhere. The men heard
it and crouched. But neither abandoned the
ground. After some little time, hearing nothing
further to alarm them, they set out along the
fence to a rear door in the stable. It was not

[[88]]

p087 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p088w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p089

v?