rd the corral, the cowboy joining them as a matter of
course. Estrella demanded explanations as she went along. Their
progress was leisurely. The blindfolded pump mule interested her.

"And he goes round and round that way all day without stopping,
thinking he's really getting somewhere!" she marvelled. "I think that's
a shame! Poor old fellow, to get fooled that way!"

"It is some foolish," said Brent Palmer, "but he ain't any worse off
than a cow-pony that hikes out twenty mile and then twenty back."

"No, I suppose not," admitted Estrella.

"And we got to have water, you know," added Senor Johnson.

Brent rode up the sorrel bareback. The pretty animal, gentle as a
kitten, nevertheless planted his forefeet strongly and snorted at
Estrella.

"I reckon he ain't used to the sight of a woman," proffered the Senor,
disappointed. "He'll get used to you. Go up to him soft-like and rub
him between the eyes."'

Estrella approached, but the pony jerked back his head with every
symptom of distrust. She forgot the sugar she had intended to offer
him.

"He's a perfect beauty," she said at last, "but, my! I'd never dare
ride him. I'm awful scairt of horses."

"Oh, he'll come around all right," assured Brent easily. "I'll fix him."

"Oh, Mr. Brent," she exclaimed, "don't think I don't appreciate what
you've done. I'm sure he's really just as gentle as he can be. It's
only that I'm foolish."

"I'll fix him," repeated Brent.

The two men conducted her here and there, showing her the various
institutions of the place. A man bent near the shed nailing a shoe to
a horse's hoof.

"So you even have a blacksmith!" said Estrella. Her guides laughed
amusedly.

"Tommy, come here!" called the Senor.

The horseshoer straightened up and approached. He was a lithe,
curly-haired young boy, with a reckless, humorous eye and a smooth
face, now red from bending over.

"Tommy, shake hands with Mrs. Johnson," said the Senor. "Mrs. Johnson
wants to know if you're the blacksmith." He exploded in laughter.

"Oh, BUCK!" cried Estrella again.

"No, ma'am," answered the boy directly; "I'm just tacking a shoe on
Danger, here. We all does our own blacksmithing."

His roving eye examined her countenance respectfully, but with
admiration. She caught the admiration and returned it, covertly but
unmistakably, pleased that her charms were appreciated.

They continued their rounds. The sun was very hot and the dust deep.