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against the fate of all his kind. It seemed to me the spirit of an eagle or a wolf it was that dwelt behind those full, bright eyesthat ordered all his wayward life.

I tried to put the tragic finish out of mind, and had not long to battle with the thought, not even one short hour, for the men came back.

Down the long trail to the west they had driven him; there was no chance for him to turn aside. He must go on, and the men behind felt safe in that.

Farther away from his old home on the Bitterroot River he had gone each time he journeyed. And now he had passed the high divide and was keeping the narrow trail that leads to the valley of bears and on to Salmon River, and still away to the open, wild Columbian Plains, limping sadly as though he knew. 15 His glossy hide flashed back the golden sunlight, still richer than it fell, and the men behind followed like hangmen in the death train of a nobleman condemned-down the narrow trail till it opened into a little meadow, with rank, rich grass, a lovely mountain stream, and winding bear paths up and down the waterside.

20

"Guess this'll do," said the older man. "Well, here goes for a sure death or a clean miss," said the other confidently, and, waiting till the limper was out in the middle of the meadow, he gave a short, sharp whistle. Instantly Coaly-Bay was alert. He swung and faced his tormentors, his noble head erect, his nostrils flaring; 25 a picture of horse beauty-yes, of horse perfection.

30

The rifle was leveled, the very brain its mark, just on the cross line of the eyes and ears, that meant sure, sudden, painless death. The rifle cracked. The great horse wheeled and dashed away. It was sudden death or miss-and the marksman missed.

Away went the wild horse at his famous best, not for his eastern home, but down the unknown western trail, away and away, the pine woods hid him from view, and left behind was the rifleman vainly trying to force the empty cartridge from his gun.

Down that trail with an inborn certainty he went, and on 35 through the pines, then leaped a great bog, and splashed an hour later through the limpid Clearwater, and on, responsive to some unknown guide that subtly called him from the farther west.

And so he went till the dwindling pines gave place to scrubby cedars and these in turn were mixed with sage, and onward still, till the far-away flat plains of Salmon River were about him, and ever on, tireless as it seemed, he went, and crossed the cañon of the mighty Snake, and up again to the high, wild plains where the wire fence still is not, and on, beyond the Buffalo Hump, till moving specks on the far horizon caught his eager eyes, and coming on and near, they moved and rushed aside to wheel and face about. He lifted up his voice and called to them, the long shrill 10 neigh of his kindred when they bugled to each other on the far Chaldean plain; and back their answer came. This way and that they wheeled and sped and caracoled, and Coaly-Bay drew nearer, called, and gave the countersigns his kindred know, till this they were assured-he was their kind, he was of the wild 15 free blood that man had never tamed. And when the night came down on the purpling plain his place was in the herd as one who after many a long hard journey in the dark had found his home. There you may see him yet, for still his strength endures, and his beauty is not less. The riders tell me they have seen him 20 many times by Cedra. He is swift and strong among the swift ones, but it is that flowing mane and tail that mark him chiefly from afar.

There on the wild free plains of sage he lives; the stormwind smites his glossy coat at night and the winter snows are driven 25 hard on him at times; the wolves are there to harry all the weak ones of the herd, and in the spring the mighty grizzly, too, may come to claim his toll. There are no luscious pastures made by man, no grain-foods; nothing but the wild, hard hay, the wind and the open plains, but here at last he found the thing he craved30 the one worth all the rest. Long may he roam-this is my wish, and this that I may see him once again in all the glory of his speed with his black mane on the wind, the spur-galls gone from his flanks, and in his eye the blazing light that grew in his far-off forebears' eyes as they spurned Arabian plains to leave behind the 85 racing wild beast and the fleet gazelle-yes, too, the driving sandstorm that o'erwhelmed the rest, but strove in vain on the dusty wake of the desert's highest born.

How to Gain the Full Benefit from Your Reading

The reading of this story besides giving you pleasure has no doubt given you a new idea of the unbreakable spirit of a horse chafing under restraint, and an insight into the nature of animals, which has set you to thinking. But if you are to get the full benefit from the story, or in fact from any story or poem in this book, you will need to pause long enough to notice certain facts that will give you a better understanding of it.

Introduction and Review. First, you should notice that each story and poem is a part of some special group that centers about some one big idea such as Nature, Liberty and Service, etc. Each selection will have a fuller meaning for you and make a more lasting impression if you understand how it, united with others in teamwork, helps to bring out the big idea of the group. Before reading the selections in any group you should read and discuss in class the "Introduction" that precedes them, in order that you may know in a general way what to expect. As a preparation for a full appreciation of "Coaly-Bay," read the Introduction to the group of Nature selections, page 21. And after you have read all the selections in a group you will enjoy a pleasant class period discussing the Reviewtaking stock, as it were, of the joy and benefit derived from your reading.

In addition to the Introduction and Review, each selection in this volume is followed by helpful "Notes and Questions" that contain some or all of the following features:

Biography. It is always desirable to know something about the author. When you learn, for example, on page 34, that Ernest Thompson Seton has written many famous books about animals and that he was appointed official naturalist for the government of Manitoba, Canada, you feel that he writes with authority in his chosen field.

Silent and Oral Reading. Then, you are shown how, besides reading this story for pleasure and for general information, you can at the same time increase your ability to read rapidly and understandingly. See the suggestions given for "Silent and Oral Reading," page 632, and use either the question or the outline plan for testing your understanding of the story. For example, see page 35. For oral expression, class readings are sug gested. For example, see 3 under "Discussion," page 35.

Discussion. After you have read the story through in preparation for the class period, you will find under the topic "Discussion," questions and notes that will help clear up points in the story so that it will be easier for you to gain the full meaning. For example, see question 1, page 35. Other questions, such as 2 and 3, will call your attention to the methods authors employ to get their effects, and to the beauty of the language. Still others, as question 4, will suggest to you topics for informal class discussion in which you can apply a certain thought in the story to a situation in your daily life. Such a question as 5 points to the effect the story has upon the reader.

Glossary. One of the benefits that you should gain from reading is the learning of new words and the ability to use them. At the end of the "Discussion" on page 36 you will find a list of words the meaning of which you are to look up in the Glossary (page 635 ff.) and a second list that you should find out how to pronounce by using the Glossary. Many of these words you may feel certain you know how to pronounce correctly; but perhaps you have been mispronouncing some of them. Look in the Glossary for the words listed under question 7, and you may find that you have been mispronouncing Arab or salmon. In addition to the words in these lists the Glossary includes many other words. Whenever a selection contains a word that you are not sure you understand, form the habit of looking it up in the Glossary.

Besides the individual words you do not understand, you will sometimes find a phrase, or a group of words, used in some special sense. The most striking of these are listed under the topic "Phrases." Look them up in the Glossary, for you will often find the hardest passage of the reading lesson made easy by the explanation of a single phrase.

Suggestions for Theme Topics. The reading lesson furnishes opportunity as well as rich material for oral and written composition. Interest in an author or in the subject he discusses may make you wish to extend your knowledge along these lines through directed library reading. You will find suggestions for extensive reading in the "Notes and Questions" throughout the book. You will do your class and yourself a service by planning an orderly oral or written report, giving all the class the benefit of your individual reading, as indicated in "Library Reading" and "Suggestions for Theme Topics." For example, see page 36.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Biography. Ernest Thompson Seton (1860–), the artist and author, was born in England, but has spent most of his life in America. He was educated at the Toronto Collegiate Institute and at the Royal Academy, London. He was always interested in the study of birds and animals as he found them in their natural haunts in the backwoods of Canada and on the western plains of the United States, where he lived for a number of years. For several years he served as official naturalist to the government of Manitoba, Canada. Mr. Seton is well known as an artist and has illustrated many of his own books on birds and animals; he was one of the chief illustrators of the Century Dictionary. He has written many books about birds and animals, among which are: The Biography of a Grizzly; Wild Animals at Home; and Wild Animal Ways, from which "Coaly-Bay, the Outlaw Horse,” is taken.

Questions for Testing Silent Reading. The Willful Beauty. 1. Where is the scene of this story laid? 2. How dd Coaly-Bay get his name? 3. Describe his nature. 4. What is a "quit-the-bunch" horse? 5. Describe the horse-trainer's experience trying to break Coaly-Bay for riding. 6. What was the horse's trick? 7. For how much did the owner sell him? 8. How did the new owner feel about the sale? 9. What happened in the neighbor's vegetable garden? 10. Why was Coaly-Bay called an "outlaw" horse? 11. How did the gardener come into possession of the horse? 12. How did the gardener advertise?

The Bear Bait. 1. Who composed the band of hunters? 2. What did they do when they saw the sign? 3. Describe the bait used for bearhunting. 4. How much did the hunters pay for Coaly-Bay? 5. What was the gardener's explanation of the low price? 6. Describe Coaly-Bay as he was driven along with the pack horses. 7. Describe his attempt to escape. 8. How was he outwitted? 9. How did he vent his rage?

His Destined End. 1. What did the hunters resolve to do? 2. How did Ernest Thompson Seton feel when Coaly-Bay was driven away for bear bait? 3. Describe the horse as he faced his tormentors. 4. What happened when the rifle cracked? 5. In what direction did Coaly-Bay flee? 6. Describe his flight. 7. Tell about Coaly-Bay's joining his wild kindred. 8. How are hunters able to recognize him? 9. Tell about his life on the free plains. 10. What is Ernest Thompson Seton's wish for him?

Outline for Testing Silent Reading. The Willful Beauty. (a) The scene of the story. (b) Coaly-Bay, his appearance and his nature. (c) The owner's experience in breaking him for riding. (d) Coaly-Bay's trick. (e) The ranchman's bargain. (f) The new owner's experience with CoalyBay and his neighbor's vegetable garden. (g) Settling with the gardener. (h). The sign at the gate.

The Bear Bait. (a) The band of hunters. (b) Coaly-Bay sold for bear bait. (c) The horse's attempt to escape and his capture.

His Destined End. (a) Coaly-Bay being driven to the bear glade. (b) Ernest Thompson Seton's feeling for the horse. (c) The crack of the rifle. (d) Coaly-Bay's escape. (e) Joining his wild kindred. (f) Life upon the free plains. (g) The author's wish.

Discussion. 1. Which one of the four owners that Coaly-Bay had at different times, made the best bargain? Which one seemed to get the worst of it? Which one made short work of his ownership? Which one had the most sympathy for Coaly-Bay's spirit? 2. How does the leading guide's remark about Coaly-Bay's lameness show that it was a skillful imitation? 3. Notice the beauty of the author's description of Coaly-Bay's joining his kindred. With this in mind, prepare to read aloud the last three paragraphs of the story; which sentences do you like particularly well? 4. Compare the information on the sign with that given by the gardener to