Directly after he ran against old Sam.
“Does one’s eyes good to see the master back again, sir. How well he looks!”
“Yes, Sam. By the way, I didn’t see the horse. How does it look?”
“Splendid, sir; but a good run in our enclosure won’t do it no harm.”
“Let’s go and look at it.”
“Look at it?” said the old man, grinning. “Well, you’ll have to wait till the master comes back.”
“Comes back! What, is he up?”
“Up, my lad? Hours ago, and his nag saddled and gone.”
“And I asleep!” cried Nic, in a tone full of vexation. “Which way did he go? I’ll saddle up and ride to meet him.”
“He’s gone over to the Wattles.”