_CHAPTER FOURTEEN_
Under the arch of the entrance Connor saw a gray stallion, naked ofhalter or rope, with his head raised. From the shadow he came shininginto the sunlight; the wind raised his mane and tail in ripples ofsilver. Ben Connor rose slowly from his chair. Horses were religion tohim; he felt now that he had stepped into the inner shrine.
When he was able to speak he turned slowly toward David. "Sir," he saidhoarsely, "that is the greatest horse ever bred."
It was far more than a word of praise; it was a confession of faithwhich surrounded the moment and the stallion with solemnity, and Davidflushed like a proud boy.
"There he stands," he said. "Now make him come to your hand."
It recalled Connor to his senses, that challenge, and feeling that hismind had been snatched away from him for a moment, almost that he hadbeen betrayed, he looked at David with a pale face.
"He is too far away," he said. "Bring him closer."
There was one of those pauses which often come before crises, and Connorknew that by the outcome of this test he would be judged either a manor a cheap boaster.
"I shall do this thing," said the master of the Garden of Eden. "If youbring Glani to your hand I shall give him to you to ride while you stayin the valley. Listen! No other man had so much as laid a hand on thewithers of Glani, but if you can make him come to you of his own freewill--"
"No," said Connor calmly. "I shall make him come because my will isstronger than his."
"Impossible!" burst out David.
He controlled himself and looked at Connor with an almost wistfuldefiance.
"I hold to this," he said. "If you can bring Glani to your hand, he isyours while you stay in the Garden--for my part, I shall find anothermount."
Connor slipped his right hand into his pocket and crushed the littleroot against the palm.
"Come hither, Glani," commanded the master. The stallion came up behindDavid's chair, looking fearlessly at the stranger.
"Now," said David with scorn. "This is your time."
"I accept it," replied Connor.
He drew his hand from his pocket, and leaning over the table, he lookedstraight into the eye of the stallion. But in reality, it was only tobring that right hand closer; the wind was stirring behind him, and heknew that it wafted the scent of the mysterious root straight to Glani.
"That is impossible," said David, following the glance of Connor with afrown. "A horse has no reasoning brain. Silence cannot make him come toyou."
"However," said Connor carelessly, "I shall not speak."
The master set his teeth over unuttered words, and glancing up toreassure himself, his face altered swiftly, and he whispered:
"Now, you four dead masters, bear witness to this marvel! Glani feelsthe influence!"
For the head of Glani had raised as he scented the wind. Then he circledthe table and came straight toward Connor. Within a pace, the scent ofstrange humanity must have drowned the perfume of the root; he sprangaway, catlike and snorted his suspicion.
David heaved a great sigh of relief.
"You fail!" he cried, and snatching up a bottle of wine, he poured out acup. "Brave Glani! I drink this in your honor!"
Every muscle in David's strong body was quivering, as though he werethrowing all the effort of his will on the side of the stallion.
"You think I have failed?" asked Connor softly.
"Admit it," said David.
His flush was gone and he was paler than Connor now; he seemed to desirewith all his might that the test should end; there was a fiber ofentreaty in his voice.
"Admit it, Benjamin, as I admit your strange power."
"I have hardly begun. Give me quiet."
David flung himself into his chair, his attention jerking from Glani toConnor and back. It was at this critical moment that a faint breezepuffed across the patio, carrying the imperceptible fragrance of theroot straight to Glani. Connor watched the stallion prick his ears, andhe blessed the quaint old Viennese with all his heart.
The first approach of Glani had been in the nature of a feint, but nowthat he was sure, he went with all the directness of unspoiled couragestraight to the stranger. He lowered the beautiful head and thrust outhis nose until it touched the hand of Connor. The gambler saw Davidshudder.
"You have conquered," he said, forcing out the words.
"Take Glani; to me he is now a small thing. He is yours while you stayin the Garden. Afterward I shall give him to one of my servants."
Connor stood up, and though at his rising Glani started back, he came toConnor again, following that elusive scent. To David it seemed the laststruggle of the horse before completely submitting to the rule of a newmaster. He rose in turn, trembling with shame and anger, while Connorstood still, for about this stranger drifted a perfume of broad greenfields with flowering tufts of grass, the heads well-seeded and sweet.And when a hand touched his withers, the stallion merely turned his headand nuzzled the shoulder of Connor inquisitively.
With his hand on the back of the horse, the gambler realized for thefirst time Glani's full stature. He stood at least fifteen-three, thoughhis perfect proportions made him seem smaller at a distance. No doubt hewas a giant among the Eden Grays, Connor thought to himself. The gallopon Abra the night before had been a great moment, but a ride on Glaniwas a prospect that took his breath. He paused. Perhaps it was theinfluence of a forgotten Puritan ancestor, casting a shade on every hopeof happiness. With his weight poised for the leap to the back of thestallion, Connor looked at David. The master was in a silent agony, andthe hand of Connor fell away from the horse. He was afraid.
"I can't do it," he said frankly.
"Jump on his back," urged David bitterly. "He's no more to you than ayearling to the hands of Abraham."
Connor realized now how far he had gone; he set about retracing thewrong steps.
"It may appear that way, but I can't trust myself on his back. Youunderstand?"
He stepped back with a gesture that sent Glani bounding away.
"You see," went on Connor, "I never could really understand him."
The master seized with eagerness upon this gratifying suggestion.
"It is true," he said, "that you are a little afraid of Glani. That iswhy none of the rest can handle him."
He stopped in the midst of his self-congratulation and directed atConnor one of those glances which the gambler could never learn to meet.
"Also," said David, "you make me happy. If you had sat on his back Ishould have felt your weight on my own shoulders and spirit."
He laid a hand on Connor's shoulder, but the gambler had won and losttoo often with an impenetrable face to quail now. He even managed tosmile.
"Hearken," said David. "My masters taught me many things, and everythingthey taught me must be true, for they were only voices of a mind out ofanother world. Yet, in spite of them," he went on kindly, "I begin tofeel a kinship with you, Benjamin. Come, we will walk and talk togetherin the cool of the morning. Glani!"
The gray had wandered off to nibble at the turf; he whirled and camelike a thrown lance.
"Glani," said David, "is usually the only living thing that walks withme in the morning; but now, my friend, we are three."