Very soon were were at the Dawson ranch. Indeed, Polly and I, without knowing it, had been going straight to the ranch, and were not more than a mile away when she gave out and went to sleep in the snow.
When Polly was warm and had eaten something, Mr. Dawson put her to bed, and Mr. Bob took me to the warm kitchen, where I had a nice supper of wheat bran. While I was eating Mr. Dawson came to the kitchen and patted me on the neck. “Brave Lopez,” he said, “you saved the life of your little mistress.”
After a few minutes the young man stood up. “Mr. Dawson,” he said, “I am going to ride to Vinson’s to-night and let him know that his child is safe.”
“What,” cried Mr. Dawson, “ride ten miles through this storm? You must not think of such a thing.”
“Yes,” replied the young man, quietly, “I shall go. Blackbird will carry me there safely, and I shall only be doing as I would be done by.”
A little later I heard him ride away, and then I went to sleep.
Alice Moss Joyner.
BURROWING-OWL.
(Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea.)
½ Life-size.
FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES.