There were lines of green cottonwoods following the winding course.

Then Slone saw Wildfire slowly crossing the flat toward the stream.

He had gone down that cliff, which to Slone looked perpendicular.
Wildfire appeared to be walking lame.

Slone, making sure of this, suffered a pang.

Then, when the significance of such lameness dawned upon him he whooped his wild joy and waved his hat.