FRUITLESS STRUGGLES. 



prayerful heart, endeavoured to resign myself to 

 my fate. But, in spite of my endeavours to be 

 calm, the memories of earthly pleasures, and friends 

 and home, came over me, causing me at intervals 

 to break into wild paroxysms, and make fresh 

 though fruitless struggles. Again I was attracted 

 by the neighing of my horse. At the sound, a 

 thought entered my mind, filling me with fresh 

 hope. ' Perhaps my horse' I lost not a moment. 

 I raised my voice to its highest pitch, and called 

 the animal by name. I knew that he would come 

 at my call. I had tied him but slightly ; the cactus 

 limb would snap off. Again I called, repeating 

 words that were well known to him. I listened 

 with a bounding heart. For a moment there was 

 silence, then I heard the quick sounds of his hoof, 

 as though the animal was rearing and struggling 

 to free himself; then I could distinguish the stroke 

 of his heels in a measured and regular gallop. 

 Nearer came the sounds, nearer and clearer, till the 

 gallant brute bounded out on the bank above me. 

 There he halted, and, flinging back his tossed 

 mane, uttered a shrill neigh. He was bewildered, 

 and looked upon every side, snorting loudly. I 

 knew that, having once seen me, he would not stop 

 until he had pressed his nose against my cheek ; 

 for this was his usual custom. Holding out my 

 hands, I again uttered the magic words. Now, 



