128 NEIGHBORS WITH CLA WS AND HOOFS. 



Kaweah comprehended the situation. I could feel his 

 grand legs gather under me, and the iron muscles contract 

 with excitement ; he tugged at the bit, shook his bridle- 

 chains, and flung himself impatiently into the air. 



14. It flashed upon ine that they had confederates con- 

 cealed in some ditch far in advance of me, and that the 

 plan was to crowd me through at the fullest speed, giving 

 up the chase to new men and fresh horses ; and I resolved 

 to save Kaweah to the utmost, and only allow him a speed 

 which should keep me out of gunshot. So I held him 

 firmly, and reserved my spur for the last emergency. Still, 

 we fairly flew over the plain, and I said to myself, as the 

 clatter and din of my pursuers rang in my ears now and 

 then, as the freshening breeze hurried it forward, that, if 

 those brutes got me, there was nothing in blood and brains ; 

 for Kaweah was a prince beside their mustangs, and I 

 ought to be worth two villains. 



15. For the first twenty minutes the road was hard 

 and smooth and level. After that gentle, shallow undu- 

 lations began, and at last, at brief intervals, were sharp 

 ditches eight or nine feet wide. I reined Kaweah in and 

 brought him up sharply on their bottoms, giving him the 

 bit to spring up on the other side ; but he quickly taught 

 me better, and, gathering, took them easily without my 

 feeling it in his stride. 



16. The hot sun had arisen. I saw with anxiety that 

 the tremendous speed began to tell painfully on Kaweah. 

 Foam tinged with blood fell from his mouth, and sweat 

 rolled in streams from his whole body, and now and then 

 he drew a deep-heaving breath. I leaned down and felt 

 of the cinch to see if it had slipped forward ; but as I had 

 saddled him with great care it kept its true place, so I had 

 only to fear the greasers behind or a new relay ahead. I 

 was conscious of plenty of reserved speed in Kaweah, 



