Rent The Rainbow Trail

Synopsis

Next morning the Indian girl was gone and the tracks of her pony led north. Shefford's firstthought was to wonder if he would overtake her on the trail; and this surprised him with the proofof how unconsciously his resolve to go on had formed.Presbrey made no further attempt to turn Shefford back. But he insisted on replenishing the pack,and that Shefford take weapons. Finally Shefford was persuaded to accept a revolver. The traderbade him good-by and stood in the door while Shefford led his horse down the slope toward thewater-hole. Perhaps the trader believed he was watching the departure of a man who would neverreturn. He was still standing at the door of the post when Shefford halted at the pool.Upon the level floor of the valley lay thin patches of snow which had fallen during the night. Theair was biting cold, yet stimulated Shefford while it stung him. His horse drank rather slowly anddisgustedly. Then Shefford mounted and reluctantly turned his back upon the trading-post.As he rode away from the pool he saw a large flock of sheep approaching. They were very closely,even densely, packed, in a solid slow-moving mass and coming with a precision almost like a march.This fact surprised Shefford, for there was not an Indian in sight. Presently he saw that a dog wasleading the flock, and a little later he discovered another dog in the rear of the sheep. They weresplendid, long-haired dogs, of a wild-looking shepherd breed. He halted his horse to watch theprocession pass by. The flock covered fully an acre of ground and the sheep were black, white, andbrown. They passed him, making a little pattering roar on the hard-caked sand. The dogs weretaking the sheep in to water.Shefford went on and was drawing close to the other side of the basin, where the flat red levelwas broken by rising dunes and ridges, when he espied a bunch of ponies. A shrill whistle told himthat they had seen him. They were wild, shaggy, with long manes and tails. They stopped, threw uptheir heads, and watched him. Shefford certainly returned the attention. There was no Indian withthem. Presently, with a snort, the leader, which appeared to be a stallion, trotted behind the others,seemed to be driving them, and went clear round the band to get in the lead again. He was takingthem in to water, the same as the dogs had taken the sheep.

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