Thus he argued; but, in spite of his gladness at having won the
means wherewith his mother might undergo the operation, he felt a
reaction after the excitement of the fight. Weary and wounded, and
moved to a pitying admiration of the prize within his grasp, it was
nothing to the discredit of this simple, manly lad that he shed a
few tears over his victory. Have not seasoned hunters been known
to weep over the death of a noble stag or a gentle doe? And were
these eagles no less noble in their sphere of the animal kingdom?

Almost sadly he tied them to his belt, carefully avoiding further
injury to their plumage; and as he did so, the thought crossed his
mind:

"Wonder what those fellows and the Scout Master would say about
this, if they knew?"

Still wondering, he retraced his steps along the edge of the stream,
back to the spot where he had left Keno. Imagine his dismay and
consternation when he found the tie-rope broken and the pony---gone!

Keno had disappeared! Had he grown restive and wandered away, or
had he been stolen by some lawless prowler among the hills?

The situation, in either case, was bad enough, for the distance
home was long, and Ralph was sore and aching in every limb. Knowing
a horse's infallible instinct for going homeward, he felt no
apprehension that Keno would get lost; yet he realized what a
sensation the pony would make when, provided he were not stolen,
he ambled into the farmyard, saddled and bridled and riderless!