“What are you going to do with that horse in front of you?” asked the captain.
“Hang it! if I didn’t forget about him; back with you!” he commanded with a gesture, moving toward the animal, who showed the intelligence of his kind, by retrograding carefully until he reached the broad safe place so anxiously sought by the others. There he wheeled and trotted off, speedily disappearing from sight.
“Vose, you might have traded Hercules for him.”
“Not much! I wouldn’t give that mule for a drove of horses that have belonged to these mountain Injins.”
“What’s the matter with them? Aren’t they as good as ours?”
“They’re too good; you can’t tell what trick they’ll sarve you; I was once riding through these very mountains, 210 on the back of a horse that I picked up––it isn’t necessary to say how––when his owner gave a signal and the critter was off like a thunderbolt. If I hadn’t slipped from his back at the risk of breaking my neck, he would have carried me right into a camp of hostiles and you would have been without your invaluable guide on this trip.”
“That is important information––if true––helloa! it is growing light off there in the east!”
“Yes,––day is breaking,” added Vose.
The captain looked at his watch and found the time considerably past five o’clock. They had been longer on the road than any one supposed, and the coming of morning was a vast relief to all.
The party were now grouped together, for the trail was broad and safe. Parson Brush asked, as he pointed almost directly ahead: