Hiscompanionhadnoticedthegroundalready，andassented。Therewerenotracksanywheretobeseenoverwhichwinterhadnotcomeandgonesincetheyhadbeenmade。Presentlythetrailwoundintoasultrygulchthathemmedintheheatandseemedtodrawdownthesun’sraysmorevertically。Thesorrelhorsechosethisplacetomakeatryforliberty。Hesuddenlywhirledfromthetrail，draggingwithhimhislessinventivefellow。LeavingtheVirginianwiththeoldmare，Balaamheadedthemoff，forPedrowasquick，andtheycamejumpingdownthebanktogether，butswiftlycrossedupontheotherside，gettingmuchhigherbeforetheycouldbereached。Itwasnoplaceforthissortofgame，asthesidesoftheravinewereploughedwithsteepchannels，brokenwithjuttingknobsofrock，andimpededbyshorttwistedpinesthatswungoutfromtheirrootshorizontallyoverthepitchofthehill。TheVirginianhelped，butusedhishorsewithmorejudgment，keepingasmuchonthelevelaspossible，andendeavoringtoanticipatethenextturnoftherunawaysbeforetheymadeit，whileBalaamattemptedtofollowthemclose，wheelingshortwhentheydoubled，heavilybeatingupthefaceoftheslope，veeringagaintocomedowntothepointhehadleft，andwheneverhefeltPedrobegintoflag，drivinghisspursintothehorseandforcinghimtokeepupthepace。Hehadsetouttoovertakeandcaptureonthesideofthemountainthesetwoanimalswhohadbeenrunningwildformanyweeks，andnowcarriednoweightbutthemselves，andthefutilityofsuchworkcouldnotpenetratehisobstinateandrisingtemper。Hehadmadeuphismindnottogivein。TheVirginiansoondecidedtomoveslowlyalongforthepresent，preventingthewildhorsesfrompassingdownthegulchagain，butotherwisesavinghisownanimalfromuselessfatigue。HesawthatPedrowasreekingwet，withmouthopen，andconstantlystumbling，thoughhegallopedon。Thecow-puncherkeptthegroupinsight，drivingthepackhorseinfrontofhim，andwatchingthetacticsofthesorrel，whohadnowundoubtedlybecometheleaderoftheexpedition，andwasatthetopofthegulch，invaintryingtofindanoutletthroughitsrockyrimtothelevelsabove。Hesoonjudgedthistobenothoroughfare，andchanginghisplan，trotteddowntothebottomanduptheotherside，gainingmoreandmore；forinthisnewdescentPedrohadfallentwice。Thenthesorrelshowedtheclevernessofagenuinelyvicioushorse。TheVirginiansawhimstopandfalltokickinghiscompanionwithalltheenergythatashortropewouldpermit。Theropeslipped，andboth，unencumbered，reachedthetopanddisappeared。LeavingthepackhorseforBalaam，theVirginianstartedafterthemandcameintoahightableland，beyondwhichthemountainsbeganinearnest。Therunawaysweremovingacrosstowardtheseataneasyrate。Hefollowedforamoment，thenlookingback，andseeingnosignofBalaam，waited，forthehorsesweresurenottogofastwhentheyreachedgoodpastureorwater。
Hegotoutofthesaddleandsatontheground，watching，tillthemarecameupslowlyintosight，andBalaambehindher。Whentheywerenear，BalaamdismountedandstruckPedrofearfully，untilthestickbroke，andheraisedthesplinteredhalftocontinue。
Seeingthepony’scondition，theVirginianspoke，andsaid，“I’dletthathawssalone。“
Balaamturnedtohim，butwhollypossessedbypassiondidnotseemtohear，andtheSouthernernoticedhowwhiteandlikethatofamaniachisfacewas。Thestickslidtotheground。
“Heplayedhewastired，“saidBalaam，lookingattheVirginianwithglazedeyes。Theviolenceofhisrageaffectedhimphysically，likesomestrokeofillness。“Heplayedoutonmeonpurpose。“Theman’svoicewasdryandlight。“He’sperfectlyfreshnow，“hecontinued，andturnedagaintothecoughing，swayinghorse，whoseeyeswereclosed。Nothavingthestick，heseizedtheanimal’sunresistingheadandshookit。TheVirginianwatchedhimamoment，androsetostopsuchaspectacle。Then，asifconscioushewasdoingnorealhurt，Balaamceased，andturningagaininslowfashionlookedacrossthelevel，wheretherunawayswerestillvisible。