CHAPTER XXI 



Graham, riding solitary through the redwood canyons among the hills that overlooked the ranch center, was getting acquainted with Selim, the eleven-hundred-pound, coal-black gelding which Dick had furnished him in place of the lighter Altadena. As he rode along, learning the good nature, the roguishness and the dependableness of the animal, Graham hummed the words of the "Gypsy Trail" and allowed them to lead his thoughts. Quite carelessly, foolishly, thinking of bucolic lovers carving their initials on forest trees, he broke a spray of laurel and another of redwood. He had to stand in the stirrups to pluck a long- stemmed, five-fingered fern with which to bind the sprays into a cross. When the patteran was fashioned, he tossed it on the trail before him and noted that Selim passed over without treading upon it. Glancing back, Graham watched it to the next turn of the trail. A good omen, was his thought, that it had not been trampled. 

More five-fingered ferns to be had for the reaching, more branches of redwood and laurel brushing his face as he rode, invited him to continue the manufacture of patterans, which he dropped as he fashioned them. An hour later, at the head of the canyon, where he knew the trail over the divide was difficult and stiff, he debated his course and turned back. 

Selim warned him by nickering. Came an answering nicker from close at hand. The trail was wide and easy, and Graham put his mount into a fox trot, swung a wide bend, and overtook Paula on the Fawn. 
What is the horse's name?
Who's riding him?
Where?
What music is running through his mind?
What brushed his face?
From what tree?
What did he make as he rode?
What did he do with it?
Where?
How did the horse react?
Was that a bad sign?
What was it?
What did he keep doing?
For how long?
What did the horse do then?
Of what?
What replied?
From whom?
Who was there?
What was her horse's name?
What did Graham do when he saw them?
How was the path?
Selim
Selim
Graham
Graham
through the redwood canyons
 through the redwood canyons
Gypsy Trail"
Gypsy Trail"
branches
branches
redwood
redwood
a cross
a cross
he tossed it
he tossed it
on the trail
on the trail
Selim passed over without treading upon it
Selim passed over without treading upon it
No
A good omen
A good omen
A good omen
the manufacture of patterans
the manufacture of patterans
An hour
 An hour 
warned him
 warned him 
the trail
the trail
an answering nicker
an answering nicker
close at hand
 close at hand
Paula
Paula 
Fawn
Fawn
put his mount into a fox trot
put his mount into a fox trot
wide and easy
wide and easy