AndSlonefoundhimselftremblingwithjoy。BeyondanydoubtthatlaughcouldnothavebeenLucy\'s。
Slonestolebackashehadcome，reachedtheshadowofthewall，anddrewawayuntilhefeltitsafetowalkquickly。WhenhereachedtheplacewhereheexpectedtofindWildfirehedidnotseehim。Slonelookedandlooked。Perhapshehadmisjudgeddistanceandplaceinthegloom。Still，henevermademistakesofthatnature。Hesearchedaroundtillhefoundthecedarstumptowhichhehadtiedthelasso。Inthegloomhecouldnotseeit，andwhenhereachedouthedidnotfeelit。Wildfirewasgone!Slonesankdown，overcome。
Hecursedwhatmusthavebeencarelessness，thoughheknewheneverwascarelesswithahorse。Whathadhappened？Hedidnotknow。ButWildfirewasgone——andthatmeantLucy\'sdoomandhis!Sloneshookwithcold。
Then，asheleanedagainstthestump，wetandshaking，familiarsoundmethisears。Itwasmadebytheteethofagrazinghorse——aslight，keen，tearingcut。Wildfirewascloseathand!WithasweepSlonecircledthestumpandhefoundtheknotofthelasso。Hehadmissedit。Hebegantogatherinthelongrope，andsoonfeltthehorse。IntheblackgloomagainstthewallSlonecouldnotdistinguishWild-fire。
\"Whew!\"hemuttered，wipingthesweatoffhisface。\"GoodLord!Allfornothin\'。\"