dy's maid, miss. You would, eh, you young
devil,"--this to Pepper, whose intention to walk over Billy was only
too obvious--"Get back there, will you! Now then, take that, and stand
still!" Billy evidently did not rely solely upon the law of love in
handling his broncho.

Moira abandoned him and climbed to her place in the democrat between
Cameron and his wife.

By a most singular and fortunate coincidence Dr. Martin had learned that
a patient of his at Big River was in urgent need of a call, so, to the
open delight of the others and to the subdued delight of the doctor, he
was to ride with them thus far on their journey.

"All set, Billy?" cried Cameron. "Let them go."

"Good-by, Billy," cried both ladies, to which Billy replied with a wave
of his Stetson.

Away plunged the bronchos on a dead gallop, as if determined to end the
journey during the next half hour at most, and away with them went the
doctor upon his steady broncho, the latter much annoyed at being thus
ignominiously outdistanced by these silly colts and so induced to strike
a somewhat more rapid pace than he considered wise at the beginning of
an all-day journey. Away down the street between the silent shacks and
stores and out among the straggling residences that lined the trail.
Away past the Indian encampment and the Police Barracks. Away across the
echoing bridge, whose planks resounded like the rattle of rifles
under the flying hoofs. Away up the long stony hill, scrambling and
scrabbling, but never ceasing till they reached the level prairie at the
top. Away upon the smooth resilient trail winding like a black ribbon
over the green bed of the prairie. Away down long, long slopes to low,
wide valleys, and up long, long slopes to the next higher prairie level.
Away across the plain skirting sleughs where ducks of various kinds, and
in hundreds, quacked and plunged and fought joyously and all unheeding.
Away with the morning air, rare and wondrously exhilarating, rushing
at them and past them and filling their hearts with the keen zest of
living. Away beyond sight and sound of the great world, past little
shacks, the brave vanguard of civilization, whose solitary loneliness
only served to emphasize their remoteness from the civilization which
they heralded. Away from the haunts of men and through the haunts
of wild things where the shy coyote, his head thrown back over his
shoulder, loped laughing at them and their futile noisy speed. Away
throug