sciousness, somewhat refreshed and fit for farther
distances, he found the sun well down the western
sky, the cool of evening wrapping him about in
delightful zephyrs, and he was still keeping his
place between the two horses.

Dusk found him in a small oasis. His master
slipped to earth, and with relief Pat gazed about
him. He saw a clump of trees, and in their depths,
glinting out at him between the trunks, a shimmering
pool of water. Also, near these trees, on
the edge of the grove, he saw a shack made up of
rough logs. But he was interested only in the
pool, and, when his master removed his saddle,
eagerly and with a soft nicker he stepped toward
it. But the man jerked him back. So he waited,
realizing that he had been hasty, till his bridle
was removed, when again he stepped toward the
pool. But again he was jerked back, this time by
a firm grip on his forelock. So again he waited
while the man placed the disagreeable rope around
his neck. With this secure, he found himself led
into the grove, where he soon was quenching his
raging thirst, and where, after drinking, he felt
more kindly not only toward the man, but toward
the whole world. When he was conducted
back into the open, and the end of the rope made
fast to a stake, he lifted his voice in a shrill nicker
proclaiming his satisfaction. Then he stood very
still, watching the man enter the shack, utterly
absorbed in getting that long-delayed reward of
sugar and quartered apples.

But again he waited in vain. The man did not

[[168]]

p167 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p168w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p169

v?