thing -- for, after all, he was a product of advanced
civilization -- he flung up his head a second time
and sounded a babyish whimper. Then he trotted
straight to Stephen, there to nestle, as one
seeking sympathy, under his master's enfolding
arms. And Stephen, understanding, caressed
and hugged and talked to him in a fervor of gratitude,
until, awaking to the distress of the stallion,
he staggered to his feet, intent upon a search
for a revolver in the clothing of the still form. He
found one, unexpectedly, in concealing folds, and
with it shot the gray. Then he dragged himself
to Pat, clambered dizzily into the saddle, gave
the horse loose rein.

Pat set out at a walk. He was bleeding in
many places, and he was sore and burning in many
others. But he did not permit these things to
divert him from his task. He went on steadily,
going he knew not whither, until he felt his master
become inert in the saddle. This troubled him,
and, without knowing precisely why he did it, he
freshened his gait and continued at a fox-trot
well into the morning, until his alert eyes suddenly
caught sight of a thin column of dust flung up
by galloping horses and swiftly revolving wheels.
Then he came to a halt, and, still not understanding
his motives, he pointed his head toward the
distant vehicle and sounded a shrill nicker.

The effort brought disaster. He felt his young
master slip out of the saddle, saw him totter and
sink in a heap on the sand. And now he understood
fully. Throwing up his head again, he

[[278]]

p277 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p278w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p279

v?