222 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



The corral and the open square were half-covered 

 with loose stones, and when) I thought of the clatter of 

 Kaweah's shoes I experienced a feeling of trouble, 

 and again meditated running off on foot, until the 

 idea struck me of muffling the iron feet. Ordinarily 

 Kaweah would not allow me to lift his forefeet at all., 

 The two blacksmiths who shod him had done so at the 

 peril of their lives, and whenever I had attempted to 

 pick up his hind feet he had warned me away by dan- 

 gerous stamps ; so I approached him very timidly, 

 and was surprised to find that he allowed me to lift 

 all four of his feet without the slightest objection. 

 As I stooped down he nosed me over, and nibbled 

 playfully at my hat. In constant dread lest he should 

 make some noise, I hurried to muffle his forefeet with 

 my trousers and shirt, and then, with rather more care, 

 to tie upon his hind feet my coat and drawers. 



Knowing nothing of the country ahead of me, and 

 fearing that I might again have to run for it, I deter- 

 mined at all cost to water him. Groping about the 

 corral and barn, and at last finding 1 a bucket and 

 descending through the darkness to the stream, I 

 brought him a full draught, which he swallowed eagerly, 

 when I tied my shoes on the saddle-pommel and led 

 the horse slowly out of the corral gate, holding him 

 firmly by the bit and feeling his nervous breath pour 

 out upon my hand. 



When we had walked perhaps a quarter of a mile 

 I stopped and listened. All was quiet, the landscape 

 lying bright and distinct in full moonlight. I un- 

 bound the wrappings, shook from them as much dust 

 as possible, dressed myself, and then, mounting, started 

 northward on the Mariposa trail with cocked pistol. 



