CHAPTER 10THERE was nothing unusual to the experienced Lem in hearing a horse nicker, but this time his curiosity was aroused because the nicker sounded muffled, as though the horse were deep in the gorge not far away. Lem knew that horses seldom traveled through it. Yet it was possible that a horse might look for a gentle slope in the bank, if he were thirsty, and go down for a drink at the small stream below.
Lem rode toward the place in the gorge from which the sound seemed to come. He saw nothing until he came to the ditch where Dapple Gray had floundered. Looking down, he was astonished to see Dapple standing there on the hump. Lem recognized him instantly, for he had seen him many times when Charley was riding him out on the range.
“Hello, Dapple!” Lem called down to him. “Daggone
