said the boys ; and day after day looked for the wanderer 's return , kept a bone ready in the old place if he should arrive at night , and shook his mat to keep it soft for his weary bones when he came . But weeks passed , and still no Sanch . Something else happened , however , so absorbing that he was almost forgotten for a time ; and Ben found a way to repay a part of all he owed his best friend . Miss Celia went off for a ride one afternoon , and an hour afterward , as Ben sat in the porch reading , Lita dashed into the yard with the reins dangling about her legs , the saddle turned round , and one side covered with black mud , showing that she had been down . For a minute , Ben 's heart stood still ; then he flung away his book , ran to the horse , and saw at once by her heaving flanks , dilated nostrils , and wet coat , that she must have come a long way and at full speed . `` She has had a fall , but is n't hurt or frightened , '' thought the boy , as the pretty creature rubbed her nose against his shoulder , pawed the ground , and champed her bit , as if she tried to tell him all about the disaster , whatever it was . `` Lita , where 's Miss Celia ? '' he asked , looking straight into the intelligent eyes , which were troubled but not wild . Lita threw up her head , and neighed loud and clear , as if she called her mistress ; and , turning , would have gone again if Ben had not caught the reins and held her . `` All right , we 'll find her ; '' and , pulling off the broken saddle , kicking away his shoes , and ramming his hat firmly on , Ben was up like a flash , tingling all over with a sense of power as he felt the bare back between his knees , and caught the roll of Lita 's eye as she looked round with an air of satisfaction . `` Hi , there ! Mrs. Moss ! Something has happened to Miss Celia , and I 'm going to find her . Thorny is asleep ; tell him easy , and I 'll come back as soon as I can ! '' Then , giving Lita her head , he was off before the startled woman had time to do more than wring her hands and cry out , -- `` Go for the Squire ! Oh , what shall we do ? '' As if she knew exactly what was wanted of her , Lita went back the way she had come , as Ben could see by the fresh , irregular tracks that cut up the road where she had galloped for help . For a mile or more they went , then she paused at a pair of bars , which were let down to allow the carts to pass into the wide hay-fields beyond . On she went again , cantering across the new-mown turf toward a brook , across which she had evidently taken a leap before ; for , on the further side , at a place where cattle went to drink , the mud showed signs of a fall . `` You were a fool to try there ; but where is Miss Celia ? ''
said XXXXX , who talked to animals as if they were people , and was understood much better than any one not used to their companionship would imagine .
Ben Celia Lita Moss day disaster hay-fields minute right weeks