t of the way, and he knew that he must deal gently with his horse,
and keep to the pace he had ridden through the morning: to go faster
might mean a break-down.

"Now, Sour Sorrel," he said suddenly; and the horse left off grazing,
and stood gazing at him with its great deer-like eyes.

It stood quietly enough while he gave it a good rub with some natural
hay where the saddle covered its satin coat, then clapped the saddle
back, tightened the girths and mounted, while the dogs careered round
him with their ears up and brushes waving, barking with delight, and
once more leaping up at the horse's muzzle.

Then forward once more--out of the shade and into the scorching sun.

Nic started his horse at a walk, and noted that it needed no guiding,
but took to the faint track at once, steering straight for the notch,
and making for a thick patch of wooded country, till a pressure from the
rider's leg turned it off to a more open part, from which he bore away,
so as to pass round to the west of the woodland.

As soon as it was on the springy green grass, the nag broke at once into
a canter, and the dogs now settled into a steady pace, keeping one on
either side, while Nic found it hard to believe that he was riding over
wild land, the ground bearing so strongly the appearance of forming part
of some park devoted to grazing; but now he saw no trace of beast or
sheep, little of wild creatures, save where there were signs of water,
and then only a few birds, generally a kind of plover, or ducks.

The heat was now intense. Nic had only enjoyed a week's training, and
he was in poor condition for so much exertion, so that before long he
was soaked with perspiration, and growing weary as he gazed at that
terrible notch which seemed to come no nearer, he began to lose heart
and wonder whether he would be able to accomplish his task.

The horse, too, was showing signs of exertion, and the dogs, as they
trotted on, lolled out their tongues and displayed no disposition to
break out of their steady pace to investigate anything to right or left.

"Phew! It is hot!" muttered Nic, as his horse cantered on, with the sun
dazzling his eyes like molten silver, and biting his neck, while the
whole of the atmosphere was quivering as it rose from the moister parts
of the earth. Then, in the regular rhythmic motion of that canter,
there were moments when the traveller began to feel drowsy. But he
shook off the feeling, nipped the horse's si