Again Polly laughed. A smile slowly played about the brother's lips and eyes. He must show his trump card. "But you don't know what I've got for you--" "What?" "Something you've always wanted to have for your own--" "A pony?" The man slowly rose: "Come out to the big road--" The Boy seized his sister's hand: "Polly, let's see!" The girl's eyes grew dim: "Oh, Jeff, I know you're goin'!" "No--we'll just see what it is--come on!" In five minutes they emerged from the deep woods into the clearing around a cabin. Beside the roadway stood a horse and pony, both bridled and saddled. The swift feet of the Boy flew across the opening, the sister wide-eyed and trembling, close on his heels. He threw his arms around the pony's neck and stroked his head with gentle touch. The pony pressed his mouth against the Boy's cheek in friendly response. "Did you see him kiss me, Polly?" he cried tremblingly. "Yes, I saw him," was the solemn response. "Isn't he a beauty? Look, Polly--he's got a white spot on every foot and one in his forehead and black as a coal all over--and Oh--what a saddle--a red belt and red martingales!" He touched the saddle lovingly and circled the pony's neck with his arms. The brother smiled again: "Well, what do you think of that?" The Boy was trembling now from head to foot, his heart in his throat as he slowly asked: "You mean that--you'll--give--him--to me--for--all my own?" "If you'll be a good boy, go to school and work hard--yes." "All right, Big Brother," was the quick answer, "I'll go. Help me on him quick, and let me try him!" The Boy lifted his bare foot into the strong hand, sprang into the saddle, bounded down the road, wheeled, flew back and leaped to the ground. "He's a dandy!" Polly dropped her head and started home, making a brave fight to keep back the tears. Half way across the clearing she gave up in a long pitiful wail. The Boy, busy with his pony, had not missed her. In a moment he was by her side, his arms about her neck. "Don't cry, Polly honey, I'll be back before long," he pleaded. The only answer was a sob: "Good-by, Jeff--" Her hands slowly slipped through his. "Good-by, Polly--" He watched her go with quivering lips, and as the little figure slowly faded into the shadows of the woods he called in broken accents: "Kiss Mamma for me--and tell her I wanted to go back and say good-by--but Joe wouldn't let me!" "Yes, honey!" "And you--watch out for that old drunk man we saw once in the woods, Polly!" "Yes!" "Don't let him get you--" "No--I won't--good--good-by!" "Good-by--" The last good-by stuck in the Boy's throat, but he lifted his blue eyes, saw his pony and smiled through the tears. II THE WILDERNESS A journey of a thousand miles through the unbroken wilderness--the home of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Nations and all on his own beautiful pony! It was no time for tears. The Boy's soul leaped for joy.