the water that
ran unheeding by me.

Once more I fixed my gaze upon the sky, and with prayerful heart
endeavoured to resign myself to my fate.

In spite of my efforts to be calm, the memories of earthly pleasures,
and friends, and home came over me, causing me at intervals to break
into wild paroxysms, and make fresh, though fruitless, struggles.

Again I was attracted by the neighing of my horse.

A thought entered my mind, filling me with fresh hopes. "Perhaps my
horse--"

I lost not a moment. I raised my voice to its highest pitch, and called
the animal by name. I knew that he would come at my call. I had tied
him but slightly. The cactus limb would snap off. I called again,
repeating words that were well known to him. I listened with a bounding
heart. For a moment there was silence. Then I heard the quick sounds
of his hoofs, as though the animal were rearing and struggling to free
himself. Then I could distinguish the stroke of his heels in a measured
and regular gallop.

Nearer came the sounds; nearer and clearer, until the gallant brute
appeared upon the bank above me. There he halted, and, flinging back
his tossed mane, uttered a shrill neigh. He was bewildered, and looked
to every side, snorting loudly.

I knew that, having once seen me, he would not stop until he had pressed
his nose against my cheek, for this was his usual custom. Holding out
my hands, I again uttered the magic words.

Now glancing downward, he perceived me, and stretching himself, sprang
out into the channel. The next moment I held him by the bridle.

There was no time to be lost. I was still going down; and my armpits
were fast nearing the surface of the quicksand.

I caught the lariat, and, passing it under the saddle-girths, fastened
it in a tight, firm knot. I then looped the trailing end, making it
secure around my body. I had left enough of the rope, between the
bit-ring and the girths, to enable me to check and guide the animal, in
case the drag upon my body should be too painful.

All this while the dumb brute seemed to comprehend what I was about. He
knew, too, the nature of the ground on which he stood, for during the
operation he kept lifting his feet alternately to prevent himself from
sinking.

My arrangements were at length completed; and with a feeling of terrible
anxiety I gave my horse the signal to move forward. Instead of going
off with a start, the intelligent animal stepped away slowly,