138 . Sallie Russell 



as of coming disaster. Sallie strained her bloodshot 

 eyes in one last look around the horizon. There 

 was the agony of despair in that look. The quiver- 

 ing nostrils, the erect ears vibrating with agony, the 

 open mouth and parched tongue, all denoted the last 

 appeal of a noble but dying spirit. Was there no 

 help ? Do both God and man desert the faithful ? 

 Sallie's anxious eyes had scanned every foot of the 

 horizon. There was no hope. She turned her ap- 

 pealing face toward the woods, and detected a slight 

 movement along its edge. Then it ceased. Again 

 it appeared, and at length, cautiously, as if fearful of 

 danger, a human figure advanced toward her. Slowly 

 but nearer it came. Would it prove a friend to help, 

 or an enemy to abuse ? Some instinct within told 

 her it was a friend ; and summoning all her remain- 

 ing strength, she gave a long and joyous whinny. 

 Its effect upon the approaching figure was wonderful. 

 At first the man stopped, and then broke into as 

 rapid a run as his evidently weakened limbs would 

 permit. Sallie watched his approach. He was rag- 

 ged, thin, and weak. His hair and beard were long; 

 but something about him seemed familiar to Sallie, 



