32 WILD FLOWERS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



I called whoa ! He paid not the least attention to me, but 

 walked, as I thought, a little faster. I quickened my pace ; so 

 did he. He kept close to the side of the mountain; so did I ; for 

 the path grew narrower and more difficult. The space between us 

 widened as we ascended. Turning a sharp angle I saw a small 

 clearing and a house artistically built of logs against the side of 

 the mountain. I stood still, both from surprise and fatigue, and 

 saw the horse walk straight up to the door. The door opened ; a 

 man came out. He patted the horse, and that miserable animal 

 that had not allowed me to get within reach of his head, actually 

 laid it upon the man's shoulder as if caressing him. 



Hot, dusty, my face red, and dress torn, I stood hesitating 

 what to do. The dog decided for me. He gave a loud bark 

 and ran forward. The man looked toward the dog and discovered 

 me. He raised his hat and came forward, saying, " I fear Dick 

 has given you a hard chase. I have owned that horse for six 

 years, and only last spring sold him to the people on the ranche 

 below. This is the first chance he has had to run home, and I 

 am glad to see him. Will you come in ? ' 



"If this is his old home I will stay long enough to give 

 him a little visit," I said. 



Inside the log house I found the man's wife, a woman of rare 

 intelligence, who spent much time each day in collecting and 

 pressing wild flowers. It was near their place I found this snap- 

 dragon. It grew in great abundance here, and I chose it as 

 the finest of the flora seen during my stay in the ranche in 

 the Sierra Nevada mountains. 



