The Texan found it hard to restrain his excitement. "The finest horse I've ever seen," he told the Indian beside him. "Look at him, Tonto! These muscles, and the eyes! The tail and mane are like silk! Look at his coat, how it glistens in the sun. I'm going to ride this horse. He came back after he'd left us. I'm going to ride him. And his name shall be Silver." The horse stood quietly while the tall man with the deep voice and gentle touch mounted his bare back. "You, Silver--" the man said, "--we're going to be friends, aren't we, old boy?" A gentle caress on the white neck. To show his happiness and demonstrate the fact that he was strong again, the white horse rose high on his hind legs, then came down without a jar. He would prove to this white man who had defended him that he was glad to have a friend. "_High, Silver!_" the man cried out. "_High up_ again!" Trying to understand what the man on his back wanted, Silver repeated his rearing action. He heard the happy laugh of his rider. "Now, big fellow," the man called out, "let's travel. _Away_ there, Silver." For a moment the white horse couldn't comprehend. Then he felt a nudge from the heels of the man on his back. "Hi there you, Silver horse, _away_!" Silver moved ahead, carrying his master. He was desperately anxious to do what this man wanted. Eager to show his happiness at the finding of a friend. As he moved, he heard shouts of encouragement. "That's it, Silver! Hi you, Silver, away!" The horse moved faster. Another shout, this time contracted. "Hi-Yo' Silver, Away!" Silver broke into a run. Now he knew what the master wanted. At the next shout, the big stallion gave all his strength in a burst of speed that made his snowy figure like a flash of light across the open plains. The shout was one that later rang throughout the West--the clarion call--the tocsin of a mystery rider who wore a mask. "Hi-Yo Silver, _Away-y-y-y_." Chapter VII YUMA It was midafternoon before Penelope returned to the clearing in the woods. She had found some difficulty in slipping unobserved into the storeroom on the ranch to secure the things that now reposed in saddlebags. While in the Basin the girl had made sure that Mort Cavendish would be occupied with the supervision of branding a lot of new cattle. He could hardly get back home before dark. This would give Penny ample time to make her call on Becky and be with her when Mort came in. When Penny turned the supplies over to Tonto, she saw the gratitude in the Indian's eyes. "It was almost as if the food were going to save his life," she later thought. The truth of the matter was that the food was to save a life that was more important to the Indian than his own could possibly be.