Finally he saw the stallion turn his head away from the mares and raise it high, snorting loudly. The other horses, too, moved about more restlessly than before.

At that moment the canyon echoed to a high-pitched whistle. Shrill, loud and clear, it vibrated from wall to wall until it lost itself in the rolling plain beyond. The whistle was like nothing Steve had ever heard before, and his breath came short. Then he forced himself to turn his head upward. Slowly he raised it until he could see the cliff high overhead.

A horse stood there, silhouetted against the bare moonlit walls like a giant statue! His small head was raised in haughty defiance, and the only thing about him that moved was the long mane that swept back in the night breeze.

Steve had stopped breathing. He closed his eyes. It’s not true, he thought. I’m dreaming. Nothing is true. I’m still asleep. I heard nothing, saw nothing, actually. Pitch is asleep beside me. The horses are asleep. I heard nothing. And nothing is on the cliff. Nothing, nothing, nothing!

But he opened his eyes and looked again. The horse was still there. Steve could see the high crest upon the long neck, the giant body which seemed so much out of proportion to the small head.

“Oh, Pitch! Pitch!” Steve shouted, pounding the sleeping figure beside him. If this were all a dream would he feel his fist sinking into Pitch’s back? Would Pitch sit up, as he did now, grabbing him, shaking him by the shoulders?

“Steve! What on earth is the matter? Stop it!”

Then it’s not a dream, Steve thought. This much of it, anyway. “Look up on the cliff, Pitch. Tell me what you see. Quick!” His voice was tired, beaten.

He watched as Pitch turned his head toward the cliff. For a frightening few seconds Pitch’s face disclosed nothing. Then his eyes widened, the corners of his mouth twitched nervously and he said, “I see a horse … a horse on the cliff! Incredible!”

Steve closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he looked up at the cliff. The horse was gone, the cliff deserted. Pitch’s gaze met his. “We’re sure, Pitch?” Steve asked.