Hoof Beats 



water and pawing madly for a footing on the bank 

 which was lower and more solid here. Striving 

 called to him and the horse responded madly. 

 Then with one wild effort all three came out to- 

 gether, dripping and exhausted. The gray stood 

 shaking with fright for a moment, and then 

 galloped crazily away. In the distance the brown 

 mare joined him and the two raced across the 

 open fields. 



Striving laid the girl on the ground. Her eyes 

 were closed. He chafed her hands and called 

 to her in sudden fear. Her eyes opened and 

 searched his, then her head fell back on his arm. 



"Oh, why did you do it?" Striving pleaded. 

 'Tt was no place for a woman to ride." 



The other smiled a little weakly. 



"I said I — ", she gasped a little for breath and 

 her breast heaved, "I said I would follow you, you 

 know, — and I, that time I doubted you. I'm 

 sorry." 



Striving smoothed back her hair, which clung 

 damp to her forehead. 



He bent nearer. '*I don't know who you are, 

 but you are a nervy little beggar. " 



The other smiled somewhat wanly. "So are 

 you," she said. 



Their eyes met again. Striving looked away 

 and his arm trembled a bit. 

 76 



