nostrils extended. Tzaritza rose from the ground where she had dropped
down after greeting Dr. Llewellyn, and stood with ears raised, though
neither man nor girl yet heard the faintest sound.

"Some one's coming and coming in a hurry," said Peggy quietly, "or THEY
wouldn't look like THAT."

As she spoke the dull thud of hoofs pounding rapidly upon soft turf was
borne to their ears, and a moment later a big gray horse ridden by a
little negro boy, as tattered a specimen of his race as one might expect
to see, came pounding into sight. With some difficulty he brought the
big horse to a standstill in front of them and grabbing off his ragged
cap stammered out his message:

"Howdy, Massa Dominie. Sarvint, Missy Peggy, but Josh done sont me fer
ter fin' yo' an' bring you back yon' mighty quick, kase--kase, de--de
sor'el mar' done got mos' kilt an' lak' 'nough daid right dis minit. He
say, please ma'am, come quick as Shazee kin fotch yo' fo' de Empress,
she mighty bad an'--"

"What has happened to her, Bud?" interrupted Peggy, turning to spring
upon Shashai's back, but pausing to learn some particulars. The Empress
was one of the most valuable brood mares upon the estate and her foal,
still dependent upon her for its nourishment, was Peggy's pride and joy.

"She done got outen de paddock and nigh 'bout bus' herself wide open on
de flank on dat dummed MAS-CHINE what dey trims de hedges wid. She
bleeged ter bleed ter death, Joshi say."

Peggy turned white. "Excuse me, please--I must go as fast as I can.