He walked a long time and presently he felt the horse rubbing his nose
gently against his arm. Ned stroked the soft muzzle.
"You've saved my life. Old Jack," he said, "and not for the first time.
You responded to every call."
The horse whinnied ever so softly, and Ned felt that he was not alone.
Now he threw the bridle reins back over the horse's head, and then the
two walked on, side by side, man and beast.
They stopped at times, and it may be that the horse as well as the boy
then looked and listened for a foe. But the Mexicans had melted away
completely in the night. It was likely now that they were going in the
opposite direction, and assured that he was safe from them for the time
Ned collapsed, both physically and mentally. Such tremendous exertions
and such terrible excitement were bound to bring reaction. He began to
tremble violently, and he became so weak that he could scarcely stand.
The horse seemed to be affected in much the same way and walked slowly
and painfully.
Ned saw another little grove, and he and the horse walked straight
toward it. It was fairly dense, and when he was in the center of it he
wrapped his rifle and himself in his serape and lay down.
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