ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



walked away. Mongola followed. She in- 

 creased her speed and he still followed her. 

 How my heart beat ! My first impulse was to 

 run after him. For I had not realized until 

 then what it would really mean to lose this 

 playful little pet. I was determined, however, 

 to let him go, for I felt it was right at any cost 

 to myself to give the little fellow his liberty if 

 he wished it. As the skunks disappeared in 

 the tall grass, I turned to my pony and laid my 

 head on his neck for comfort. I stood thus 

 thinking and mourning my loss. Presently I 

 felt a tiny little jerk at my dress. There stood 

 Mongola on his hind feet, scratching at the hem 

 of my skirt to attract my attention ! He looked 

 up at me with his earnest little eyes and seemed 

 to say "I have come back, don't you want 

 me?" Dear Mongola! He loved me best, 

 better than the wild freedom of the prairie and 

 the companionship of his own kind. How I 

 loved him ! How glad I was to think I had 

 unselfishly offered him his freedom ! I grabbed 

 the little animal and showered him with kisses, 

 then set him on the back of my pony and stood 

 off to admire them together. It was true the 



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