veins like those on the back of a leaf, only more irregular -- veins
which stood out as though the skin
were but thin parchment through which the blood
might burst. A rare horse, rare in any country,
doubly rare in this land of the small Spanish
product, was the rating given to Pat by men
trained to judge value at sight. And so widespread
did this appraisal become, along trail, beside
camp-fire, in bunk-house, that it was known
throughout the length and breadth of the Territory,
and beyond the Territory, that Judge Richards
was the owner of a horse the like of which
never had been seen south of the Pecos.

For several days after the clipping, Helen did
not choose to ride. So Pat was permitted the
doubtful pleasure of loafing about in the inclosure.
Then one morning, when the winter day was unusually
warm, he awoke to a great clatter of hoofs
outside the corral. Directly he saw a party of
young people, men and girls under the chaperonage
of a comely matron, dismounting in high spirits.
As the party swung down he saw his mistress appear
from the house, attired in her riding-habit,
and, understanding the object of all this, since
these parties had become frequent in the past
two months, he pressed close to the fence, anxious
to be off. The Mexican bridled and saddled him;
his mistress and the others mounted; soon all
clattered out upon the river-trail.

The day was beautiful, and Helen, riding, as
usual, beside Stephen, both in the rear, enjoyed
the morning keenly. Overhead, out of a shim-

[[127]]

p126 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p127w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p128

v?