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"Then if your foot is hurt you will want to ride. That seventeen

miles might be too long a stroll before you get through with it."

"I don't know what I'll do yet," she answered shortly.

"I know what you'll do."

"Yes?"

"You'll quit your foolishness and get on this hawss."

She flushed angrily. "I won't!"

He stooped down, gathered her up in his arms, and lifted her to

the saddle.

"That's what you're going to do whether you like it or not," he

informed her.

"How are you going to make me stay here, now you have put me

here?"

"I'm going to get on behind and hold you if it's necessary."

He was sensible enough of the folly of it all, but he did not see

what else he could do. She had chosen to punish him through

herself in a way that was impossible. It was a childish thing to

do, born of some touch of hysteria her experience had induced,

and he could only treat her as a child till she was safely back

in civilization.