CHAPTERII。
Oncewithinthefriendlyshadowsofthelongbeltofpines，Mrs。
BakerkeptthemuntilshehadleftthelimitedsettlementofLaurelRunfartotheright，andcameuponanopenslopeofBurntRidge，wheresheknewJoSimmons’mustang，BlueLightning，wouldbequietlyfeeding。Shehadoftenriddenhimbefore，andwhenshehaddetachedthefifty-footreatafromhishead-stall，hepermittedherthefurtherrecognizedfamiliarityoftwiningherfingersinhisbluishmaneandclimbingonhisback。Thetool-shedofBurntRidgeTunnel，whereJo’ssaddleandbridlealwayshung，wasbutacanterfartheron。Shereacheditunperceived，and——anothertrickoftheolddays——quicklyextemporizedaside-saddlefromSimmons’Mexicantree，withitshighcantleandhornbow，andtheaidofablanket。
Thenleapingtoherseat，sherapidlythrewoffhermantle，tieditbyitssleevesaroundherwaist，tuckeditunderoneknee，andletitfalloverherhorse’sflanks。BythistimeBlueLightningwasalsostruckwithaflashofequinerecollectionandprickeduphisears。Mrs。Bakerutteredalittlechirpingcrywhichheremembered，andthenextmomenttheywerebothcareeringovertheRidge。
Thetrailthatshehadtaken，thoughprecipitate，difficult，anddangerousinplaces，wasacleargainoftwomilesonthestageroad。Therewaslesschanceofherbeingfollowedormeetinganyone。Thegreatercanyonswerealreadyinshadow；thepinesonthefartherridgeswereseparatingtheirmasses，andshowingindividualsilhouettesagainstthesky，buttheairwasstillwarm，andthecoolbreathofnight，asshewellknewit，hadnotyetbeguntoflowdownthemountain。ThelowerrangeofBurntRidgewasstilluneclipsedbythecreepingshadowofthemountainaheadofher。