, scientifically, and
convince you."

A glance shoreward showed the car awaiting them. As they descended the
ladder to the launch, a yelp sounded from the deck, and a bull-terrier
came charging after. Florence regarded the dog without any evidence of
pleasure.

"Does the pest go, too?" she asked, resignedly.

Josephine pulled the terrier's ears fondly, as it cuddled close
against her skirt.

"Chubbie deserves an outing after the bump he got from that horrid man
yesterday," she said.

The girls exchanged glances, and laughed over some secret joke. When,
presently, they were seated together in the runaabout, with Josephine
at the wheel, the bull-terrier squatted in dignity on the small back
seat. The level sand formed a perfect roadway, and the car darted
smoothly and swiftly between the twin barren spaces of land and sea.
As they swept forward, the girls watched alertly for a glimpse of the
ponies among the dunes, but there was nowhere any sign of a living
thing, save the few hurrying gulls. They had gone perhaps twenty
miles, and were beginning to fear disappointment, when, without
warning, a drove of the horses came galloping over the crest of a
little rise, a half-mile beyond. As the car ran forward, along the
ribbon of sand below the higher ground, the ponies suddenly perceived
it, and halted with the precision of a troop of cavalry. Near at hand,
now, the girls could note details, and both observed with interest the
leader, which stood a little in advance of his troop, at the end near
the approaching machine. He was a handsome creature, with lines as
suavely strong as an Arabian's. He stood with head held high, tail
streaming, a fore-hoof pawing challengingly at the sand. Only the
thick, shaggy bay coat showed the barbarian, rather than the
thoroughbred. The mares, a score of them in one orderly rank behind
him, were crowding and lashing out nervously, as they watched the
strange monster racing so fast on the ocean's edge. Some of them
nickered curiously. But the stallion rested silent, until the
automobile halted, hardly fifty yards away. Then he tossed his head
proudly, and blared a great trumpet-note of defiance. Josephine
instinctively answered with the horn. The mechanical cry broke
harshly, swelled and wailed. The eerie response terrified the mares;
it perplexed and alarmed their lord. But he showed no dismay. For a
moment still, he remained motionless. His noisy challenge rang forth
once again. Since