They were so rested and well fed that they were disposed to turn
skittish, and two of them communicated their spirits to three of the
others, which joined in, tossing their heads, prancing, and making a
show of treating their visitor as one who was hiding bridle and bit
behind him, ready to entrap and change their pleasant hour's grazing
there amongst the rich succulent grass to a mouthful of hard iron with
the burden of heavy riders upon their backs.

In fact, five of the ponies contrived to keep the advancing lad at a
distance, while the sixth, which had been grazing slowly, suddenly
raised its head and stood staring at him.

At the first glance Chris set this down to feebleness, and looked upon
it as a bad sign. But he altered his mind directly after, when he
walked up to the animal's side, patting its neck and passing its soft
ears through his hand, for the poor beast whinnied softly, and slowly
advanced its muzzle to rest it against the boy's arm.

"Why, I believe you're better, old chap," cried Chris, as he began to
examine the pony's wounds, seeing at once that they appeared to be
drying up, while when he moved a yard or two the animal followed him,
limping, it is true, but not in a way that suggested permanent injury.
"Why, this is cheering," cried Chris eagerly. "I thought that you and I
were never going to have a long gallop over the plains again, and now
you look as if you'll be ready for me to mount in a fortnight at the
most--perhaps in a week, eh, old chap? There, I am glad. I say, I
should like as soon as the Indians have gone, for you to carry me up to
the head of the valley there, and then for you to show me exactly where
it was that you fell, and--Hallo! What's that?"

Chris looked round sharply, but could see nothing but the groups of
grazing horses and mules.

"It sounded as if some one had thrown a stone. Can't be Ned stalking me
and up to his games, can it?--There it goes again."

He started round to look behind him towards the terraced fortress he had
left, but all was quiet there and no sign visible of Ned or any one to
play any trick.

Then again something--something, he knew not what; but it was as if a
pebble had fallen from the sky.

"Not going to hail, is it?" thought Chris; and then he laughed at the
absurdity of the idea, for the sky was perfectly clear.

_Rap_!

Another something fallen from on high, but the mystery was at an end,
for he not only saw it falling but wher