Chapter 15

           Foranothermilethechasecontinued,withoutmuchchange.Themaresstillsweptoninfullflight,thoughnolongerscreamingorinfear.Themustangstillutteredanoccasionalneigh,whichitsoldassociatesseemednottonotice;whileitsriderheldherseatinthesaddleunshaken,andwithoutanyapparentalarm.

           Thebloodbayappearedmoreexcited,thoughnotsomuchashismaster;whowasbeginningtoshowsignseitherofdespondencyorchagrin.

           "Come,Castro!"heexclaimed,withacertainspitefulnessoftone."Whatthedeuceisthematterwithyourheels—to-dayofallothers?Remember,youovertookherbefore—thoughnotsoeasily,Iadmit.Butnowshe’sweighted.Lookyonder,youdullbrute!Weightedwiththatwhichisworthmorethangold—wortheverydropofyourblood,andminetoo.Theyeguapintaseemstohaveimprovedherpaces.Isitfromtraining;ordoesahorserunfasterwhenridden?

           "WhatifIlosesightofher?Intruth,itbeginstolookqueer!Itwouldbeanawkwardsituationfortheyounglady.Worsethanthat—there’sdangerinit—realdanger.IfIshouldlosesightofher,she’dbeintroubletoacertainty!"

           Thusmuttering,Mauricerodeon:hiseyesnowfixedupontheformstillflittingawaybeforehim;atintervalsinterrogating,withuneasyglances,thespacethatseparatedhimfromit.

           Uptothistimehehadnotthoughtofhailingtherideroftherunaway.

           Hisshoutsmighthavebeenheard;butnowordsofwarning,orinstruction.