with the coming of noon, the blessed relief from
the weight of the man, the ill-fitting saddle,
and the over-tight girth, came also an agreeable
surprise. He was turned out to graze without
hobble or tether, and for this consideration he
felt faint glimmerings of respect for his new
master. Making free at first with the other
horses, he set off to enjoy to the full his newfound
liberty.

But as he pursued ever farther the elusive vegetation
in the joy of freedom, he presently awoke
to his great distance from camp, and, indeed, from
the other horses. Conscious of a sudden gripping
loneliness and a certain apprehension, he began
to retrace his way. As he did so, out of the silence
came a nasty whirring sound, and suddenly
he felt a rope settle over his head. Surprise, then
anger, displaced his loneliness and apprehension;
he jerked back to escape the rope. But it held fast.
He braced his legs and began to pull steadily.
But the harder he pulled the worse the rope
choked him. Finally he ceased all effort and turned
his eyes along the rope. At the far end stood
the little mare, legs braced in the sand, and astride
her, stolid and grim, and with eyes narrowed, the
figure of the large man. At sight of him Pat began
to pull again, more through ugliness now than
desire to escape, until he found that he was dragging
the little gray out of her stiffened hold.
Then he slackened off. Also, as she wheeled back
toward camp, he set out amiably after her. In
camp he found his young friend scattering and

[[190]]

p189 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p190w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p191

v?