Meanwhile Pepper and Salt had been rejoicing in their reunion, Salt full of spirit and pranks as the result of his good care, and poor Pepper, for once full-fed, wonderfully “chirkered” up in consequence, though in sharp contrast to his mate.

As Peggy and Polly cavorted around the track, racing, jumping and cutting all manner of pranks, Salt’s attention to his mate seemed to be diverted.  The antics of Star and Shashai, unhampered, happy and free as wild things, seemed to excite him past control.  Again and again he ran snorting toward the paling, turning to whinny an invitation to Pepper, but, even with his poor, half-starved stomach for once well-filled, Pepper could not enthuse as his mate did; one square meal a year cannot compensate for so many others missed, and bring about miracles.

Around and around the track swept the girls, taking hurdles, and cutting a dozen antics.  At length Peggy, who had been watching Salt, stopped, and saying to Polly: 

“I’m going to try an experiment,” she slipped from Shashai’s back.  Going to the fence she vaulted the four-foot barrier as easily as Shashai would have skimmed over six.  Salt came to her at once, but Pepper hesitated.  It was only momentary, for soon both heads were nestling confidingly to her.  She was never without her little bag of sugar and a lump or two were eagerly accepted.  Then going to Salt’s side she crooned into his ear some of her mysterious “nightmare talk,” as Shelby called it.  It was a curious power the girl exercised over animals—­almost hypnotic.  Salt nozzled and fussed over her.  Then saying: 

“Steady, boy.  Steady.”  She gave one of her sudden springs and landed astride his back, saddleless and halterless.  He gave a startled snort and tore away around the paddock.  Polly was now used to any new departure, but Nelly gave a little shriek and clasped her hands.  “She is all right, don’t be frightened,” smiled Polly.  “She can do anything with a horse; I sometimes think she must have been a horse herself once upon a time.”  Nelly looked puzzled, but Polly laughed.  Meanwhile Peggy was talking to her unusual mount.  He seemed a trifle bewildered, but presently struck into a long, sweeping run—­the perfect stride of the racer.  Peggy gave a quick little nod of understanding as she felt the long, gliding motion she knew so well.  As she came around to her friends she reached forward and laying hold of a strand of the silvery mane, said softly:  “Who—­ooa.  Steady.”  What was it in the girl’s voice which commanded obedience?  Salt stopped close to his mate and began to rub noses with him as though confiding a secret.

“Bud,” commanded Peggy, “go to the stable and fetch me a snaffle bridle.”  The bridle was brought and carefully adjusted.

“Come, Salt, now we will put it to the test; those flank muscles mean something unless I’m mistaken.”

During all this Shelby and Bolivar had come up to the paddock and stood watching the girl.