"I never can forget this day," sobbed the girl. "I never will disobey you again, Uncle."
In the meantime Charley had been examining the mare.
"Yes, she is dead, Colonel," he reported. "She isn't staked and she hasn't broken any bones. It was just a blood vessel that she has ruptured, but it finished her all right."
"Come, Margaret, you get up behind me," said the Colonel, "and we will go home."
So they helped the girl up behind her uncle and all made their way back to Eaton Manor, the hounds following in the rear.
When they dismounted at Eaton Manor, Colonel Eaton invited his friends to come into the stable. This was after they had helped Peggy into the house.
"I have a little ceremony to perform," he explained, "and I want you all to witness it. It is rather important, sah."
When Sultan and the rest of the hunters had been stabled, the Colonel summoned all to meet in the long barn floor.
"Rastus," called the Colonel, "I want you
