The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

however. he spoke some word, and sud-
denly those meek, quiet horses were
turned into two devils, which reared
UP on their hind legs and threatened
them with their teeth and with their
front hoofs, that were shod with thin
plates of iron. Goodwin stood wonder
ing, but Wulf who was angry at the
trick, got behind the horses, and, watch
ing his chance, put his hands upon the
fanks of the stallion named Smoke,
and with one spring leapt into the sad
die. Masouda smiled. and even the
Arab muttered Good" while Smoke,
feeling himself backed, came to the
ground again and became quiet as a
sheep. Then the Arab spoke to the
horse Flame, and Goodwin was allowed
10 vault into the saddle also.
Where shall we go?" he asked.
Masouda said that they would show
them, and, accompanied by her and the
Arab, they walked the horses until they
were quiet clear of the town, to find
themselves on q road that had the sea
to the left, and to the right a stretch of
fiat land, some of it cultivated, above
which rose the steep and stony sides of
hills. Here on this road they trotted
and cantered the horses to and fro. till
they began to be at home in their
strange saddles, who from child
hood had ridden barebacked in the
Essex marches, and to learn what
pressure on the bit was needed
to check or turn them. When
they came back to where the pair
stood, Masouda said that if they were
not afraid the seller wished to show
them that the horses were both strong
and swift.
I'VE fear no ride that he dares to
take himself" answered Wulf angrily.
whereupon the Arab smiled grimly
and said something in low voice to
Masouda. Then, placing his hand
upon Smokes flank, he leaped UP be-
hind Wulf, the horse never stirring.
Say, Peter, are you minded to take
a companion for this ride?" asked
Masouda, and as she spoke a strange
look came into her eyes, wild look
that was new to the brethren.
Surely" answered Goodwin, but
where is the companion?"
Her reply was to do as the Arab
had done, and seating herself straddle-
legged behind Goodwin to clasp him
around the middle.
Truly you look a pretty pilgrim
now, brother" said Wulf, laughing
aloud, while even the grave Arab
smiled and Goodwin muttered between
his teeth the old proverb, Woman on
Group, devil on bow" But aloud he
said, Il am indeed honored; yet,
friend Masouda, if harm should come
of this, do not blame me-"
mo harm will come-to you, friend
Peter, and l had been so long cooped
in an inn that /, who am desert born,
wish for a gallop on the mountains
with a good horse beneath me and a
brave knight in front. Listen, you
brethren; you say you do not fear;
then leave your brides loose and
where'er we go and whate'er We meet
seek not to check -or turn the horses
Flame and Smoke. Now, Son of the
Sand, we will test these nags of which
you sing so loud song. Away, and
let the ride be fast and fari"
ION your head be it then, daughter,
answered the old Arab. Pray Allah
that these Franks can sit horse"
Then his somber eyes seemed to take
fire, and gripping the encircling saddle
girth, he uttered some words of COM
mand, at which the stations threw up
their heads and began to move at a
long, swinging gallcp toward the
mountains a mile away. At first they
went over cultivated land off which the
crops had already been cut, striking
two or three bitches and low wall in
their stride so smoothly that the breth-
rem felt as though they were seated
upon swallows. Then came a space of
sandy rsward, half a mile or more,
where their pace quickened, after which
they began to breast the long slope of
a hill, picking stheir way among the
stones like cats. Ever sleeper 1t grew
till in places it was so sheer that God
win must clutch the name Of Flame
and Masouda must cling close to God
wins middle to save themselves from
slipping off behind. Yet, notwithstand-
ing the double weights they bore, those
gallant steeds never seemed to falter
or to tire. At one spot they plunged
through mountain stream. Goodwin
noted that not fifty yards to their
right this stream fell over a little prec-
ipice cutting it's way between cliffs
which were full eighteen feet from
bank to bank, and thought to himself
that had they struck it lower down that
ride must have ended. Beyond the
stream lay a hundred yards or so Of
level ground, and above 1t still sleeper
country, up which they pushed their
way through bushes, till at length they
came to the top Of the mountain and
saw the plain they had left lying two
miles or more below them.
These horses climb hills like goats"
Wulf said; but one thing Is certain,
we must lead them down.
Now on the top Of the mountain was
a stretch of Land almost fiat and stone
less, over which they cantered forward,
gathering speed as the horses recovered
their wind till the pace grew fast. Sud-
denly the stations threw themselves on
to their launches and stopped, as well
they might, for they were on the verge
of a chasm, at whose far foot a river
brawled in white foam. For moment
they stood; then, at some word from
the Arab, wheeled round, and, bearing
to the left, began to gallop back across
the tableland, until they approached
the edge Of the mountain side, where
the brethren thought they would stop.
But Masouda cried to the Arab, and
the Arab cried to the horses, and Wulf
cried to Goodwin In the English tongue:
"Show no fear, brother. Where they
go. we can CO."
Pray God that the girths may hold"
answered Goodwin, leaning back against
the breast of Masouda behind him. AS
he spoke they began to descend the hill,
slowly at first, afterward faster >and
yet more fast, till they rushed down.
ward like whirlwind.
How did those horses keep their foot
ing? They never knew, and certainly
none that were bred in England could
have done So Yet never falling, never
stumbling even, on they sped, taking
great rocks in their stride, till at length
they reached the level piece of land
above the stream, or rather above the
cleft fully eighteen feet in width. at the
foot of which that stream ran. God
win saw and turned cold. Were these
folk mad that they would put double