understand. To know you are right 

 and then go ahead is a pretty plan, but 

 how to know? The animal did not 

 stop or swerve from its course. We 

 would surely collide. What was I to 

 do ? Oh, for a precedent ! Evidently 

 the mare was aware of one, for she 

 wheeled to the right just in time to 

 miss the oncoming heifer, and we 

 raced alongside for a few seconds. I 

 had so nearly parted company with my 

 mount in the last manoeuvre (centaurs 

 would have an enormous advantage 

 as cowboys) that I had lost all desire 

 to help Van and only wanted to get 

 away from that heifer, to make an hon- 

 ourable dismount, and go somewhere 

 by myself where a little brook babbled 

 nothings, and the forget-me-nots pla- 

 cidly slept. Rough riding and adven- 

 tures of the Calamity Jane order tempt- 

 ed me no more. 



