"But I don't understand why they have come all the way across the desert to get into this range?" said Tad. "Why did they not remain on the other side where, I understand, there is plenty of forage?"
"It's a peculiar thing, kiddie, but hosses, wild or tame are like human beings in some ways. They like to get back home."
"What do you mean?"
"Wild horses always will go back to the range where they were born. Sometimes they run away from the range ahead of a storm; sometimes they are captured and taken away. But if they ever get the chance, back they go to the place where they were born. Angel was born in this range, and so were most of the mares and others that have come over with him. When a halfbreed Cherokee came into camp and told us the band of horses was seen stretched out on the mesa on the other side, I knew they were getting ready to hike across the desert, so we prepared to come here."
Tad was listening intently. All this was new to him and much of it not entirely understandable.
"Did you ever notice how animals act before a big storm?" asked Bud.
"No; I can't say that I have."
"Next time you see a lot of horses stretched out on the ground on their sides, heads close to the ground, all looking as if they were asleep, you'll know there's a big storm coming."
"Why do they do that?"
"I don't know, unless it is to rest themselves thoroughly before running away from the storm that they know is coming."