I was all impatient. I strained my eyes on the dust that was now nearing the spring, and wondered 1f Hank and Tom were ready to begin the chase. But Don calmly sat down on a rock and began to talk. “He came with his mother four years ago. He was only a yearling then, but a pretty smart colt. Then, for two years I never saw him. When he came back he had the little bay mare with him. Next, he had twenty in his bunch; now there are thirty, an’ he’s got old Pap’s three thoroughbreds.” Looking up a few minutes later he said, “They are coming now.” I eagerly followed his eyes. Sure enough! there was the tell-tale dust é : Z & § 2 Z S é 5 Z s é . & é 5 é 5 flying fast, and behind it a lesser dust, show- ing that Hank and Tom were riding behind them. Nearer and nearer they came! The boys were holding their own, riding fast. Gold, however, easily kept ahead of them. Already some of the band had dropped behind and were laboring hard to carry the load of water they had drunk. But Gold and the little bay mare were gaunt and galloped steadily. We mounted our horses and felt their bodies quiver with excitement as the band rushed past. At the baseof the ridge the boys stopped their sweating horses and Tom called, “Ready!” | I waved my hand and followed Don at break-neck speed. Before we had passed a mile, the two leaders only, were before us. Gold was no longer yellow, but was brown with dust and sweat. We evened our pace with his and galloped mile after mile beneath the burning sun. It was marvelous how Tony bore such a gigantic man as Don. His square shoulders still worked without a sign of tiring. oe “The little mare is going,” said Don. Before we had gone a hundred yards farther, she was making her last effort. Oh, 1t was pitiful to see her labor to keep those white feet going! Gold was like a lover to her, often turning his head and coaxing her on by looks. Slower and slower she went, straining on. Her efforts were all in vain! She sank lower at every leap. With a pitiful shudder she sank to her haunches. One last look was exchanged between them, and Gold galloped on. | I looked upon the foaming Gold, who had so gallantly shown his worthiness to be free. I admired his finely shaped body, even more because it was covered with dust and sweat; and him more for his mettle and endurance. I watched old Tony, and how I longed to see him weaken! But we neared, inch by inch. Then, it seemed that my prayer would be answered, for as | looked on the foam-covered Tony, I saw that his gait was no longer regular —his leaps were uneven. His master saw it too. “Your horse! Quick!” he cried. As I leaped to the back of his saddle he sprang into mine. Oh! how my heart sank when I realized why I had been chosen to go along with Don; when I saw King respond to his spur; when I saw Don uncoil his rope, with set lips and determined eye. How the long rope swung back and torth by Don’s side. He leaned forward. His spurs struck the horse’s flanks, and, like a flash, the long rope darted through the air. I spurred Tony, who, relieved from his load, gathered his strength and easily followed. I guided my horse aside, because the dust was between us. Instantly, I saw that Gold had felt his first rope. Still he bounded forward. King stopped, his forefeet placed firmly in the ground; and the mustang was thrown face to face with his captor. He made one wild leap forward, then whirled; and with his last strength, bounded away. “Give him slack,” I cried. Before the sentence was finished, Gold lay on the plain. Don leaped from his horse to hobble him, but there was no need. Gold was dead just a few rods from hishomein the mountains. As I looked away to conceal a tear, I saw a crow fly from one of those jagged peaks, where it had sat, like an evil spirit, watching over the ranges. Then another came from far away on the other side of the desert. Soon there were twenty or more circling about us. When I turned around, Don was standing with his arms 'ocked behind him looking down on the horse he had killed. Deep sorrow was plainly written on his sun-burned face, but he slowly turned and mounted his horse in silence. As we rode back, we saw the little mare trotting along. She stopped and looked at us. Her glance seemed a joyful one, because we did not bring Gold back a captive; and she quickened her pace to join him. é AR IAIN CIMA YENI CIALIS | 61 |r ICICI AMICI DIORA ICIAINDICIAIN é closely at their heels. Our eyes followed the dust as DIC JAIN DICRAI las Di CAMA 2 alongside of him—the rest of the band, it moved on toward the spring. DCIAMALDI IAIN 5 ridge, he “lined out”’ on a long steady trot. The pretty little white-footed bay mare stole CPI > é DIC IAIN DIC IANINGS) NIAIONIMAIONIAION IF OYE CRAIN ICI ANN DICIAMA II CIAIN DIC ISIN DI CRAIN DIGI AN NII eis I OIERIA TON IAT ENIAC IENIA IONIC v ICI AINSI AIINGS Ne)