y long hours and daily work, but
these were the flower of Last's, the prized favourites.

For a long time Tharon sat and watched them, noting their perfect
condition, their glistening skins, their shining hoofs, many of which
were striped, another characteristic.

"I don't believe," she said at last, "that there's a bunch of horses
in Lost Valley to come nigh 'em. Ironwoods or anything else--I'd back
th' Finger Marks."

"So would we," said Conford quietly, "though we've seen th' Ironwoods
run--a little."

"That's th' word, Burt," said Curly, "a little. Who of us has ever
seen Courtrey let Bolt run like he wanted to? Not a darned one. I've
seen that big bay devil pull till th' blood dripped from his mouth."

"Sure," put in Masters, "I've seen that, too--but I was lyin' up on
th' Cup Rim oncet, watchin' a couple mavericks fer funny work, an'
Courtrey an' Wylackie Bob come along down that way on Bolt an'
Arrow--an' they wasn't a-holdin' them then. Lord, Lord, how they was
goin'! Two long red streaks as level as your hand, an' I swear my
heart came up in my throat to see 'em, an' I almost hollered. It was
pretty work--pretty work, an' no mistake."

Tharon looked over at him.

"Fast as El Rey, Jack?"

"Who could tell?" said the man. "I know it was some speed, an' that is
all."

The girl struck a hand on the king's shoulder so passionately that he
jumped and snorted.

"Some day," she said tensely, "El Rey will run th' Ironwoods off their
feet--an' I'll run th' heart out of their master, damn him! Put th'
horses out. It's supper time."

She threw her right limb over the stallion's neck swiftly and with
lithe grace, and slid abruptly to the ground.

As she did so there came the sound of hoofs on the hard earth at the
corner of the house, and a stranger came sharply into sight.

He drew up and nodded. Conford, just turning away, turned quickly back
and came forward.

"Howdy," he said.

The man, tall, lean, dark, returned the salute with another nod.

He was covered with dust, as if he had ridden far and been a long time
coming. His clothes were much the worse for wear, but they were mostly
leather, which takes wear standing, as it were. The wide hat pulled
low over his piercing dark eyes, was ornamented with a vanity of
silver.

The riding cuffs at his wrists were studded profusely with the same
metal, as was the wide belt that spanned his narrow waist.

He wore a three days' beard, and a black moustache