All her movements were stealthy as a cat's.
She laid the old coat over the horse's back, swung her brother's saddle into place,--she had none of her own, and could ride his, or without any; it made no difference, for she was perfectly at home on horseback,--and strapped the girths with trembling fingers that were icy cold with excitement.

Across the saddle-bows she hung the two flour-sacks containing her provisions.

Then with added caution she tied some old burlap about each of the horse's feet.

She must make no sound and leave no track as she stole forth into the great world.
The horse looked curiously down and whinnied at her, as she tied his feet up clumsily.

He did not seem to like his new habiliments, but he suffered anything at her hand.
"Hush!" she murmured softly, laying her cold hands across his nostrils; and he put his muzzle into her palm, and seemed to understand.
She led him out into the clear moonlight then, and paused a second, looking once more down the road that led away in front of the cabin; but no one was coming yet, though her heart beat high as she listened, fancying every falling bough or rolling stone was a horse's hoof-beat.
There were three trails leading away from the cabin, for they could hardly be dignified by the name of road.