She resisted all she could. He pulled her arms down round the
King's neck and tied them close. Then he pulled hard on the rope on her ankle
and tied that to her other ankle.
Lucy realized that she was bound fast. Creech had made good most of his
threat. And now in her mind the hope of the death she had sought changed to
the hope of life that was possible. Whatever power she had ever had over the
King was in her voice. If only Creech would slip the bridle or cut the
reins--if only Sage King could be free to run!
Lucy could turn her face far enough to see Creech. Like a fiend he was
reveling in his work. Suddenly he picked up the gun.
"Look a-hyar!" he called, hoarsely.
With eyes on her, grinning horribly, he walked a few paces to where the long
grass had not been trampled or pressed down. The wind, whipping up out of the
canyon, was still blowing hard. Creech put the gun down in the grass and
fired.
Sage King plunged. But he was not gun-shy. He steadied down with a pounding of
heavy hoofs. Then Lucy could see again.
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