"Mother," she said, "that's Alec's horse. He must have been thrown off, perhaps killed."
A man was chopping wood about a hundred yards away. Running up to him, she said, "Where is Alec?"
"'Spose he stayed at the mine all night. Never saw him after he went away to fetch Max Hicsh."
"But there's his horse saddled an' bridled!" said Annie.
"That's nothing," said the man. "Like's not he hitched up the horse at the mine, and it broke away. Do you think Alec would walk home on a dark night? 'Not if I knows it,' says he."
"I know Alec better than that," said Annie. "He must have been thrown off. Is there a horse in?"
"Yes, Brownie and Whalebone."
Annie ran to the stable, shot the wooden bolt, and went in. She put Mrs. McKeel's saddle on Brownie, slipped a headstall and bridle on, then led him out. Jumping on his back, she galloped away, across the creek, and along the track she knew Alec must have taken when he went on his last night's ride. In half an hour she drew up at Max Hicsh's door.
"Coo-ee!"
"Vat is dis?" said Max, putting his head out of a window, a long pipe in his mouth, his blue eyes staring in wonder.