e are generally glad when the rains come," she answered,
evasively.

"To keep them away? Yet if, as I suspect, you have an ostrich farm, I
can't blame their curiosity. I'm hoping to visit one, myself."

"Ours is not a real 'farm.' It is just one of the many things our
ranch is good for. But I know my mother would make you very welcome.
You--but there! Look down, please. Yonder it is, Sobrante. That means
'richness,' you know. And now up. The next turn will land us on the
mesa, and I hope, I hope, I have come in time!"

The road had now broadened, and with a little chirrup to King Zulu, she
passed and forged ahead so rapidly that she was soon out of sight. The
great bird upon whose back she was perched was not, apparently, at all
wearied, but poor Prince was utterly winded, while a curious feeling of
loneliness stole upon his rider.

But, presently, the sound of voices came over the bluff, and Mr. Hale
urged his tired beast forward. The next he knew he was sprawling on the
plateau and his horse had fallen beside him. Prince's forefoot was in
a hole, from which he was unable to withdraw it.

"Oh! oh! The poor creature! And you, sir, are you hurt?"

"No, I think not. Rather a shake-up, though, and I was dizzy with the
heat before. Prince, Prince, lie still; we'll help you."

One glance had showed the stranger that they were near a shepherd's hut,
and that its occupant was at home. The man had been sitting quietly in
the shade of the little building and of the one pepper tree which grew
beside its threshold. He did not move, even now, till the girl called
impatiently:

"Pedro! Come! Quick!"

Then he arose in a leisurely fashion and, carefully depositing his osiers
in a tub of water, came forward.

"So? He can't get up, yes? A wise man looks where he rides, indeed."

Despite his anxiety over Prince, Mr. Hale regarded the shepherd with
amused curiosity. Pedro's swarthy face was as unmoved as if the visits
of strangers with disabled horses were daily events; but the man's
calmness did not prevent his usefulness. In fact, during every step
of his deliberate advance he had been studying the situation and how
best to aid the fallen animal, which had now ceased to struggle and lay
gazing at his master with a dumb, pitiful appeal.

Then Pedro bent forward and, with a strength amazing in a man of his
small build, seized Prince's head and shoulder and with one prodigious
wrench freed him from the pitfall. Then he stoope