RETURN TO WHITE HORSE 235 



I could not think of parting with Billie 

 without emotion. The next morning after 

 our arrival at White Horse I went to the sta- 

 ble where he was quietly eating his breakfast, 

 and called to him. As soon as I entered he 

 at once turned his head and I patted him on 

 his forehead and put my arm around his neck 

 while he rubbed his nose against my hand. I 

 really cannot explain how the thought origi- 

 nated, but I felt he realized that we were to 

 part forever. 



Amid the rush and bustle of the following 

 morning when we were trying to get things 

 in shape to leave, I again opened the stable 

 door and greeted him with a "Hello, Billie." 

 How his glorious eyes did shine as he gave 

 me a morning welcome ! I spent with him all 

 the precious minutes that could be spared, and 

 walked away from him backwards so that he 

 could see me and I him until a corner had to 

 be turned and he was out of sight. 



He had carried me on his back at least a 

 thousand miles. He had jumped across 

 chasms that most horses would not dream of 

 taking. He had forded many streams with 

 me on his back, had several times slid down 

 steep declines with all his feet bunched to- 

 gether, and had safely carried me up moun- 



