She hurried to them, now, and, leaning over them, puckered her red lips
and sent a shrill, clear whistle out across the pasture. Immediately
from a thicket-tangle at the far end of the half-cleared lot appeared a
shaggy pony, limping wofully, but with ears pricked forward as a sign of
welcome to his mistress.

"Come on, Little Hawss!" she called. "Come on! It hurts, I know, for
you to step, but come on, just th' same. I got a turnip for you."

She turned to Layson with an explanation. "He's lame, poor Little Hawss
is. Don't know's he'll ever get all right ag'in."

"Oh!" said Layson. "And I didn't even know you had a horse." Horses are
less common in the mountains than are oxen, although nearly every
mountain farm has one, for riding. Oxen, though, are the section's
draught-animals.

"Didn't think I had a hawss?" she said, and laughed. "I'd _die_ without
a hawss! Why, they say, here in the mountains, that I'm a good rider.
I've raced all the boys and beat 'em on my Little Hawss."

She petted the affectionate, uncouth little beast and fed him slowly,
lovingly. "Little Hawss, before he hurt his hoof, was sure-footed as a
deer. Didn't have to be afraid to run him anywhere, on any kind of road
at any time of day or night," said she. "Never stumbled, never missed
the way, and, while he don't _look_ much--he never did--he could just
carry _me_ to suit me! But--well, I don't know as he will ever carry me
again!"