the crowd to part for him; he reared, backed, plunged, and
shook himself; but did not in the least disturb his mistress' firm
seat, as with her own head leaning forward she kept her gaze upon some
distant object and urged him to pursuit.

The crowd which made way for this eager pair was first angry, then
amused. After that it began to collect into a formidable following.
Poor Lady Jess became to them a "show" and Scruff's antics but meant
to exhibit her "trick" riding.

Now Stiffleg was an ancient beast, which had been a trotter in his day;
but his day, like his master's, was past. By good care and easy stages
he had accomplished his long journey in fair condition; but he was a
sensible animal and felt that he had earned a rest. So when Ephraim
urged him forward after the vanishing burro he halted and turned his
head about. If ever equine eyes protested against further effort, his
did then; and at ordinary times "Forty-niner" would have been the
first to perceive this appeal and grant it. He had always bragged that
"Stiffleg's more human than most folks," but he forgot this now. He
remembered only that his precious charge was fast disappearing from
sight and that in another moment she would be lost in a great, strange
city.

"Simpleton that I was! I never even mentioned the name of the tavern we
were going to," reflected, "else she might tell it and get shown the
way." Then came another startling thought. For fear of just such an
emergency--why had he been silly enough to think of it?--he had on that
very morning, as they neared their journey's end, divided their money
into two portions and make her carry the larger one. She had objected,
at first; but afterward consented, and with pride in his trust. "If
any scamp got hold of her he'd rob her or--maybe worse! Oh, Atlantic!
Giddap, Stiff! Giddap, I tell you!"

To the crowd this appeared but another feature of "the show." These
rustics from the plains had evidently come into town to furnish
entertainment for Sunday strollers, and Stiffleg's obstinacy was to
them a second of the "tricks" to be exhibited.

However, it was a case of genuine balk; and the more Ephraim urged,
implored, chastised, the firmer were the horse's forefeet planted upon
the highway and the more despairing became the rider's feeling.

"Build a fire under him," "Thrust red pepper under his nose," "Tie
him to a trolley car." "Blindfold him."

Various were the suggestions offered, to none of whi