ed animal is there
grazing in our valley."

The two went down the slope. The horse was still there, grazing in his
grassy circle, and as the two approached he drew away a little but did
not seem to be frightened. Then Ned understood, or at least his belief
was so strong that it amounted to conviction.

"It's the horse of the soldier whom you shot yesterday," he said. "You
remember that he galloped away among the bushes. No doubt, too, he was
driven a long distance by the storm. He can't be accounted for in any
other manner."

"There are some guesses so good that you know at once they're right,"
said Obed, "and yours is one of them, Ned. Now that is a valuable horse.
One of the most valuable that ever grazed in a valley of Mexico or any
other valley. He's so precious because we want him, and we want him so
bad that he's worth a million dollars to us."

"That one of us may ride him to Texas."

"Yes, and we may be able to secure another. You stay here, Ned, and let
me catch him. Horses like me better than some men do."

Ned sat down and Obed advanced warily, holding out his hand and
whistling gently. It was a most persuasive whistle, soft and thrilling
and the horse raised his head, looked contemplatively out of large
lustrous eyes at the whistler. Obed advanced, still whistling, in the
most wonderful, enticing manner. Ned felt that if he were a horse he
could not resist it, that he would go to the whistler, expecting to
receive oats, corn, and everything else that a healthy horse loves. It
seemed to have some such effect upon the quarry that Obed coveted,
because the horse, after withdrawing a step, advanced toward the man.

Obed stopped, but continued to whistle, pouring forth the most beautiful
and winning trills and quavers. The horse came and Obed, reaching out,
seized the bridle which hung loose. He stroked the horse's head and the
animal rubbed his nose against his shoulder. The conquest was complete.
Bridle in hand, Obed led the way and Ned met him.

"I think our good horse here was lonesome," said Obed, "Horses that are
used to human beings miss 'em for a while when they lose 'em, and we're
not enslaving our friend by taking him. Here's a lariat coiled at the
saddle bow; we'll just tether him by that, and let him go on with his
grazing, while we get our breakfast. You will notice, too, Ned, that
we've taken more than a horse. See this pair of holster pistols swung
across the saddle and ammunition to fit.