The Indian horses
evidently broke their lariats and joined in the stampede. I suppose
Lopez has driven them all into the enclosure?"
"Oh, yes, papa. They went in by themselves with our own animals,
and Terence shut the gate at once."
In another quarter of an hour they reached the house, received by
Sarah and Terence--the latter being almost beside himself with joy
at his master's safe return, and with vexation when he heard that
there had been a fight, and that he had not been able to take part
in it.
Orders had been given to Sarah to prepare breakfast the instant the
returning party had been seen, and their signal of "all safe" been
made out. It was now ready; but before sitting down to it Mr. Hardy
begged all present to join in a short thanksgiving to God for their
preservation from extreme peril.
All knelt, and as they followed Mr. Hardy's words, they were sure,
from the emotion with which he spoke, that the peril, of the
particulars of which they were at present ignorant, had been indeed
a most imminent one.
This duty performed, all fell to with great heartiness to
breakfast; and when that was over Mr. Hardy related the whole
story. Very greatly were Mrs. Hardy and the girls amazed at the
thoughts of the great peril through which their father and the boys
had passed, and at the account of the defense by the boys when
their father was lying insensible.
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