"
The dead man's saddle was left beside the body; then when the
exchange of mounts had been effected and all was ready, Law made a
request that amazed both father and son.
"If I'm not back by morning, I want you to bury my mare." His
voice broke; he turned away his face. "Bury her deep, Ricardo, so-
-the coyotes can't dig her up; right here where she fell. I'll be
back to see that it's done right. Understand?"
"Bueno! I understand perfectly. She was a pretty horse. She was
your--bonita, eh? Well, you have a big heart, senor, as a brave
man should have. Everything shall be done as you wish; I give you
my hand on it." Ricardo reached down and gripped Law's palm. "We
will name our pasture for her, too, because it is plain you loved
her dearly. So, then, until to-morrow."
Law watched his two friends ride away, then he wiped his
Winchester and saw to his cinch. This done he raised Bessie
Belle's head and kissed the lip that had so often explored his
palm for sugar. With a miserable ache in his throat he mounted and
rode off to pick up the trail of the man on the sorrel pony.
Fortunately this was not difficult, for the tracks of a running
horse are plain in soft ground.
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