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Once astride the horse again, Helen had to congratulate herself upon not being so crippled as she had iirls had long water-proof coats, brand-new, and of which they were considerably proud New clothes had not been a common event in their lives

"Reckon I'll have to slit these," Dale had said, whipping out a huge knife

"What for?" had been Bo's feeble protest

"They wasn't h even if I do cut theet soaked"

"Go ahead," had been Helen's reluctant per new coats were slit half-way up the back The exigency of the case was manifest to Helen, when she sa they came down over the cantles of the saddles and to their boot-tops

The ray and cold A fine, misty rain fell and the trees dripped steadily Helen was surprised to see the open country again and that apparently they were to leave the forest behind for a while The country ide and flat on the right, and to the left it rolled and heaved along a black, scalloped ti clouds obscured the rowing stronger Dale and Roy were ahead, traveling at a good trot, with the pack-anih to do to keep up

The first hour's ride brought little change in weather or scenery, but it gave Helen an inkling of what she an to welcome the places where the horses walked, but she disliked the levels As for the descents, she hated those Ranger would not go down slowly and the shake-up she received was unpleasant Moreover, the spirited black horse insisted on ju the ditches and washes He sailed over the the saddle properly, and so, not only was her person bruised on these occasions, but her feelings were hurt Helen had never before been conscious of vanity Still, she had never rejoiced in looking at a disadvantage, and her exhibitions here e to the front, and she seldo they struck into a broad, muddy belt, full of innumerable small hoof tracks This, then, was the sheep trail Roy had advised following They rode on it for three or four reen valley, they saw a huge flock of sheep Soon the air was full of bleats and baas as well as the odor of sheep, and a low, soft roar of pattering hoofs The flock held a co rapidly There were three herders on horses and several pack-burros Dale engaged one of the Mexicans in conversation, and passed so the trail The Mexican grinned froht the quick "SI, SENOR! GRACIAS, SENOR!" It was a pretty sight, that flock of sheep, as it rolled along like a rounded woolly strearays and browns and here and there a black They were keeping to a trail over the flats Dale headed into this trail and, if anything, trotted a little faster