onely life all winter since the capture of his harem,
and of this old Turkeytrack was fully aware. The old cook's chum had a
nice little brown mare which he judged would serve his ends, and taking
a pair of the strongest hobbles, a spade, a spare lasso, and a stout
post he mounted the mare and rode away to the famous Springs.

A few antelope skimmed over the plain before him in the early freshness
of the day. Cattle were lying about in groups, and the loud, sweet song
of the prairie lark was' heard on every side. For the bright snowless
winter of the mesas was gone and the springtime was at hand. The grass
was greening and all nature seemed turning to thoughts of love.

It was in the air, and when the little brown mare was picketed out to
graze she raised her nose from time to time to pour forth a long shrill
whinny that surely was her song, if song she had, of love.

Old Turkeytrack studied the wind and the lay of the land. There was the
pit he had labored at, now opened and filled with water that was rank
with drowned prairie dogs and mice. Here was the new trail the animals
were forced to make by the pit. He selected a sedgy clump near some
smooth, grassy ground, and first firmly sunk the post, then dug a hole
large enough to hide in, and spread his blanket in it. He shortened
up the little mare's tether, till she could scarcely move; then on the
ground between he spread his open lasso, tying the long end to the
post, then covered the rope with dust and grass, and went into his
hiding-place.

About noon, after long waiting, the amorous whinny of the mare was
answered from the high ground, away to the west, and there, black
against the sky, was the famous Mustang.

Down he came at that long swinging gait, but grown crafty with much
pursuit, he often stopped to gaze and whinny, and got answer that surely
touched his heart.

Nearer he came again to call, then took alarm, and paced all around in
a great circle to try the wind for his foes, and seemed in doubt. The
Angel whispered "Don't go." But the brown mare called again. He circled
nearer still, and neighed once more, and got reply that seemed to quell
all fears, and set his heart aglow.

Nearer still he pranced, till he touched Solly's nose with his own,
and finding her as responsive as he well could wish, thrust aside all
thoughts of danger, and abandoned himself to the delight of conquest,
until, as he pranced around, his hind legs for a moment stood within