Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/147

 again, with the advance of night, the bright sunshine having been dimmed by gathering clouds even before they left home. Mehitable, sitting motionless in her saddle, suddenly shivered at the penetrating dampness and perhaps because of the wild loneliness of the hills and the blackness of the night and the mystery of those ever-nearing hoof-beats.

"Art cold, Hitty!" asked John concernedly, noticing her shiver. "Yet we had best remain here forthe nonce. We will ride hard, later, to get your blood warm, but now those hoof-beats portend evil. Is it not so, Gray Hawk?" He glanced at the Indian, who nodded in the darkness.

"It is so, my brother," returned Gray Hawk in his own language.

"Aye, I do not mind" Mehitable broke off with a gasp. For, as they waited beside the road, where they had withdrawn, a horse flashed out of the night, passed them like a flying thing, and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Gray Hawk galloped after it, and before the others realized he was gone, he returned, leading his trophy.

Mehitable peered uneasily at the captured runaway beast. "Why, John, what be on this horse's back?" she asked in a shocked voice.

John Condit hastily dismounted and approached the horse, which the Indian was quieting. Tis Sturgins!" John told her presently. His voice