He found the broken girth, and sat down at once to mend it.

Fred scarcely dared to breathe for a moment.

But Schmidt did not notice the empty holster, and though he growled and swore when he saw how the girth had snapped, he did not seem to notice that it had been cut almost through.
Fred went over and looked at him.

Then, idly, indifferently, he went to the horse, which was standing perfectly still, though its flanks were still heaving.

Fred patted the horse's head.