\"ByG——d——I——got——arope-onhim!\"criedSlone，inhoarsepants。
Hestared，unbelieving。Itwasunreal，thatsight——unrealliketheslow，grindingmovementoftheavalancheunderhim。Wildfire\'sheadseemedademonheadofhate。Itreachedout，mouthagape，tobite，torend。Thathorriblescreamcouldnotbethescreamofahorse。
Slonewasawild-horsehunter，arider，andwhenthatsecondofincredulityflashedby，thencamethemomentoftriumph。Nomomentcouldeverequalthatone，whenherealizedhestoodtherewitharopearoundthatgrandstallion\'sneck。Allthedaysandthemilesandthetoilandtheenduranceandthehopelessnessandthehungerwerepaidforinthatmoment。Hisheartseemedtoolargeforhisbreast。
\"Itracked——you!\"hecried，savagely。\"Istayed——withyou!An\'Igotarope——onyou!An\'——I\'llrideyou——youreddevil!\"
Thepassionofthemanwasintense。Thatendless，rackingpursuithadbroughtoutallthehardnessthedeserthadengenderedinhim。Almosthate，insteadoflove，spokeinSlone\'swords。Hehauledonthelasso，pullingthestallion\'sheaddownanddown。Theactionwasthelustofcaptureaswellastherider\'sinstinctivemotivetomakethehorsefearhim。Lifewasunquenchablywildandstronginthatstallion；itshowedintheterrorwhichmadehimhideous。Andmanandbeastsomehowresembledeachotherinthatmomentwhichwasinimicaltonoblelife。