Strona 226 z 439

Presently Fraser observed with astonishment that they were

following a path that crept up the very face of the bluff.

Up--up--up they went until they reached a rift in the wall, and

into this the trail went precipitously. Stones clattered down

from the hoofs of the horses as they clambered up like mountain

goats. Once the Texan had to throw himself to the ground to keep

Teddy from falling backward.

Arlie, working her pony forward with voice and body and knees, so

that from her seat in the saddle she seemed literally to lift him

up, reached the summit and looked back.

"All right back there?" she asked quietly.

"All right," came the cheerful answer. "Teddy isn't used to

climbing up a wall, but he'll make it or know why."

A minute later, man and horse were beside her.

"Good for Teddy," she said, fondling his nose.

"Look out! He doesn't like strangers to handle him."

"We're not strangers. We're tillicums. Aren't we, Teddy?"