Without a moment's hesitation, feeling the relaxed bridle, she lay down and rolled over.
In this perplexity the sound of horse's hoofs ringing out of the rocky canyon beyond was a relief, even if momentarily embarrassing.

An instant afterwards a horse and rider appeared cantering round the hill on what was evidently the lost trail, and pulled up as I succeeded in forcing Chu Chu to her legs again.
"Is that the trail from Sonora ?" I asked.
"Yes;" but with a critical glance at the mule, "I reckon you ain't going thar tonight." "Why not ?" "It's a matter of eighteen miles, and most of it a blind trail through the woods after you take the valley." "Is it worse than this ?" "What's the matter with this trail?
Ye ain't expecting a racecourse or a shell road over the foothills--are ye ?" "No.

Is there any hotel where I can stop ?" "Nary." "Nor any house ?" "No." "Thank you.

Good-night." He had already passed on, when he halted again and turned in his saddle.
"Look yer.

Just a spell over yon canyon ye'll find a patch o' buckeyes; turn to the right and ye'll see a trail.