ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



her cheeks. While thus subdued, Long Bob 

 burned the letter " R," which was his regis- 

 tered brand, on the quivering hide on the 

 left flank of the mare. As the teacher bent 

 over the suffering brute, the true sympathy of 

 the woman went out for the captured animal; 

 all her expected pleasure of possession fled be- 

 fore her stronger feeling of pity and remorse. 

 Could she but snatch away the branded " R " 

 that was forever to mar that beautiful, glossy 

 black coat and again see the mare proud and 

 free ! She felt willing to make almost any sac- 

 rifice, but it was now too late. Never again 

 was the beautiful mare to roam at liberty over 

 the great expanse of prairie ; never again to 

 have her chosen companion. Shorn of her 

 free, wild grandeur, the remainder of her life 

 must be at the service of master man, under his 

 will and command. 



When the stallion found he was not pursued 

 he turned and ran back within full view of the 

 mare, following at a distance to the end of the 

 exciting "run down." Then from a near-by 

 knoll he pawed the earth, whinnied and ran 

 in a circle in a most aimless and grief- stricken 

 [104] 



