LucyBostilcouldnotcontroltheglowofstrangeexcitementunderwhichshelabored，butshecouldputhermindontheridingofSageKing。Shedidnotrealize，however，thatshewasridinghimunderthestressandspellofthatexcitement。
Shehadheadedouttomakeashortcut，fairlysureofherdirection，yetshewasnotunawareofthefactthatshewouldbelosttillsheranacrosshertrail。Thatmightbeeasytomissandtimewasflying。SheputtheKingtoabrisktrot，windingthroughtheaislesofthesage。
Soonshehadleftthemonumentregionandwasdownonthevalleyflooragain。
Fromtimetotimesheconqueredadesiretolookback。Presentlyshewassurprisedandverygladtorideintoatrailwhereshesawthetracksshehadmadecomingout。WithmuchreliefsheturnedSageKingintothistrail，andthenanyanxietyshehadfeltleftherentirely。Butthatdidnotmitigateherexcitement。SheeasedtheKingintoalong，swinginglope。Andashewarmedtotheworkshewasarousedalso。Itwashardtoholdhimin，oncehegotoutofatrot，andaftermilesandmilesofthis，Whenshethoughtbesttoslowdownhenearlypulledherarmsoff。Stillshefinallygothiminhand。Thenfollowedmilesofsoftandroughgoing，whichseemedlongandtedious。Beyondthatwasthehomestretchupthevalley，whosegradualslopecouldbeseenonlyatadistance。Herewasastraight，broadtrail，nottoosoftnortoohard，andforalltheyearsshecouldrememberridershadtriedoutandtrainedtheirfavoritesonthatcourse。
Lucyreacheddowntoassureherselfthatthecinchwastight，thenshepulledhersombrerodownhard，slackenedthebridle，andlettheKinggo。Hesimplybrokehisgait，hewassosurprised。Lucysawhimtryingtolookbackather，asifhecouldnotrealizethatthisyoungwomanriderhadgivenhimafreerein。Perhapsonereasonhedislikedherhadbeenalwaysandeverlastinglythattightrein。Likethewaryhorsehewashetooktoacanter，totryoutwhathisnewfreedommeant。