Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-07-27
CHAPTER II.

that red cliff-the one you and
ride up and down."
Ken paused for breath and How
ard stared at him.
Howard always took his time. He
glanced down again at the page
opened on the table before him and
finished reading ''I'll alter your life
success depends on your bodily de-
velopment-"
Gee, Howard! Come along!"
Howard closed the pamphlet and
got up from his chair. won't it
follow Flicka up the path?"
"It can't. It's too steep. 1t tried
but it can't make it."
Jimmy Christmas!" said How
ard, "what'n we do? 1t might die
if it stays out in this storm all
night"
"We'n carry i'll" cried Ken i'm
patiently. Come on! That's what
came to get you for. We gotta"
The two boys ran up the gorge.
Passing the stables Ken hesitated.
"He's regular little kicking
DEVIL" he said doubtfully, may
be We'll have to tie him" He
headed into the stables.
Bring a lantern!" shouted How
ard, and Ken emerged with two
halter-ropes, halter and lead-rope
for Flicka and the stable lantern.
The temperature was falling rap
idly. Ken's face famed and burned
from the heat within him and the
singing cold without but he didn't
notice. All he could think of was
the white foal-white-!
They slithered down the steep
path, not much more than gully
cut by the rain in the cliff, and saw
the mare and foal just as Ken had
left them.
"White!" exclaimed Howard, halt
ing just as Ken had done.
Ken slipped her halter on and
dropped the rope. Then the two boys
together tried to grip the foal but
he squealed and bit and seemed to
have dozen thrashing legs.
Suddenly Howard slipped and sat
down. The colt, too, lost his footing
and fell and Flicka whirled nervous
" and stood over him. Ken threw
himself on the foal.
Here, Howard" he said, keeping
his voice calm, "while I'm lying on
him-tie his hind feet together, can
you?
Howard accomplished this, then
Ken rolled over and the two boys
tied the front feet and stood up,
painting, while Flicka grunted anx-
iously over the prone body of her
bleating foal.
eve can't ever carry him up that
path," said Howard, lighting the
lantern. HE weighs a ton-never
saw such husky colt. And is he
strong!"
HE sure is" said Ken proudly,
fought to be-he's been in there two
months more than year-just
CROWN and eatin'-look Howard,
we'll have to get him up on Ficka.
She'll carry him."
He'd fall off," objected Howard
doubtfully.
"I'u ride her too and hold him on
you can lead her."
How'll we get him up?"
"Lft him."
Howard hung the lantern on the
bough of a tree and the two boys
lifted the struggling foal in their
arms and hoisted him onto the back
of his dam.
Ficka stood with her head turned,
watching them, but she seemed to
know the moment her own foal was
across her withers, and though she
kept her head turned to see what
the boys would do next, she became
quiet.
Gimme leg up" gasped Ken,
leaning against her side, holding the
foal in position. And Howard placed
his knee and hand and Ken
scrambled up behind the colt.
"Can you hold him?" asked
Howard.
"Yep. I think So" Ken leaned
over the colt, grasping Flicka's
name.
Howard took the lantern, picked
up Flicka's lead rope, and went
ahead.
Flicka knew now just what she
had to do. And the little procession
wound its way up the cliff, pausing
occasionally for breath, or for
Howard to lift the lantern high and
pick out the way in the smother
of snow which was beating against
them.
The foal lay like sack of meal
across Flicka's withers.
The first part of the journey was
the worst. When that was accom-
plished they were on level ground,
going rapidly toward the stables.
Flicka whinnied with joy as the
familiar smell reached her nostrils.
And when she was in her stall, and
the boys had united the colt and
lowered him to the floor, she stood