had
no intention of harming him. After that, all was easy. Before that
day was done, I had taught him to lead and to stand while I stroked his
head and flanks, and to eat from my hand, and had the satisfaction of
seeing the light of fear die in his large, intelligent eyes.

The following day I fashioned a hackamore from a piece which I cut from
the end of my long Galu rope, and then I mounted him fully prepared for
a struggle of titanic proportions in which I was none too sure that he
would not come off victor; but he never made the slightest effort to
unseat me, and from then on his education was rapid. No horse ever
learned more quickly the meaning of the rein and the pressure of the
knees. I think he soon learned to love me, and I know that I loved
him; while he and Nobs were the best of pals. I called him Ace. I had
a friend who was once in the French flying-corps, and when Ace let
himself out, he certainly flew.

I cannot explain to you, nor can you understand, unless you too are a
horseman, the exhilarating feeling of well-being which pervaded me from
the moment that I commenced riding Ace. I was a new man, imbued with a
sense of superiority that led me to feel that I could go forth and
conquer all Caspak single-handed. Now, when I needed meat, I ran it
down on Ace and roped it, and when some great beast with which we could
not cope threatened us, we galloped away to safety; but for the most
part the creatures we met looked upon us in terror, for Ace and I in
combination presented a new and unusual beast beyond their experience
and ken.

For five days I rode back and forth across the southern end of the Galu
country without seeing a human being; yet all the time I was working
slowly toward the north, for I had determined to comb the territory
thoroughly in search of Ajor; but on the fifth day as I emerged from a
forest, I saw some distance ahead of me a single small figure pursued
by many others. Instantly I recognized the quarry as Ajor. The entire
party was fully a mile away from me, and they were crossing my path at
right angles. Ajor a few hundred yards in advance of those who
followed her. One of her pursuers was far in advance of the others,
and was gaining upon her rapidly. With a word and a pressure of the
knees I sent Ace leaping out into the open, and with Nobs running close
alongside, we raced toward her.

At first none of them saw us; but as we neared Ajor, the pack behind
the foremo